Paul teaches us we are not under the Law of Moses but under grace. This is true but I think it is greatly misunderstood.

Let us take the practice of adultery. Adultery is prohibited by the Law of Moses. If the Law of Moses has been done away, are we free to practice adultery? If not, what law of the new covenant prohibits adultery? The answer is, the eternal moral law of God.

Let us take the fourth commandment, that of not working on Saturday. If the Law of Moses has been done away, are we free to work on Saturday? Now there is confusion. The prohibition of adultery and the prohibition of working on Saturday are both found in the Ten Commandments. If one is binding on us why not the other?

So you see, the statement that we are not under the Law of Moses but under grace, while it is scriptural, can be misleading and certainly unsatisfying to the devout Jew.

Let us present the fact that there are three categories of the Law of Moses:

* Those aspects of the Law of Moses that are part of the eternal moral law of God and therefore are binding on all of God's creatures at all times, independently of the Law of Moses.

* Those aspects of the Law of Moses that are not part of the eternal moral law of God except in a transcendent form.

* Those aspects of the Law of Moses that are not part of the eternal moral law of God and no longer are binding on the Christian.

That's pretty simple, isn't it?

Let's give an example of each.

Covetousness and murder are prohibited by the Law of Moses and also by the eternal moral law of God—category one. We would add that the prohibitions against adultery, covetousness, and murder are greatly enlarged under the new covenant such that the thought and attitude of them in the heart is sinful. He who hates his brother is a murderer and there is no eternal life in him.

Circumcision and the Sabbath day are enjoined by the Law of Moses. But they are not part of the eternal moral law of God except in a transcendent form.

The true and eternal circumcision which is part of the eternal moral law of God has to do with the cutting away of the fleshly nature of man. The true circumcision is part of the new covenant. Fleshly circumcision, although it has benefit in terms of health, is not part of the eternal moral law of God and therefore not binding on the Christian. There is no harm whatever in the circumcision of the flesh as long as it does not get confused in the believer's mind with the salvation that is in Christ.

The true and eternal Sabbath which is part of the eternal moral law of God refers to the fully mature Christian who is always resting in God, who does not speak, act, or think outside of the will and Presence of God. This is the way Jesus always and eternally lives and the way we always and eternally are to live. The practice of not working one day a week is definitely beneficial in terms of health but has nothing to do with the Christian salvation—category two.

To be continued.