"Biblical Proof that the Mosaic Administration is part of the unfolding Covenant
of Grace between God and Man"
of Grace between God and Man"
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Lewis
I. Galatians 3:17-21 is conclusive evidence alone!
- (17-18) The Mosaic administration did not institute a new, law-based covenant which made obsolete the promise-based covenant made with Abraham and his seed;
- (19) The purpose of the law was to serve the covenant of promise;
- (21) The law is not contrary to the promises. Only "promise" gives life; the law does not give life.
II. The Covenant of Promise with Abraham and his seed is part of God's Covenant of Grace, which endures through and long past the Mosaic administration of the covenant:
- Gen.13:16; 15:5; 17:2,4; 18:18; 22:17,18 ; 26:3,4; 28:3,4; 32:12; 35:11 46:3; 48:4,16,19
- Ex.32:13
- Dt.1:10; 10:22
- I Kings3:7,8; 4:20
- Neh.9:23,24
- Ps.115:12-15
- Is.10:22; 44:3; 48:18-19; 51:1-2; 60:20-22; 65:17-23
- Jer.33:19-22
- N.T. Commentary on the above O.T.
- Mt.3:7-9
- Lk.13:28-30
- Gal.3:6-9; 15-18; 26-29
III. The Administration of the Mosaic law is part of God's Covenant of Grace:
- Exodus 20:1-3; Dt.4-7 Redemption from slavery in Egypt is not based upon obedience to the Ten Commandments;
- Exodus 24:4-8 The people promise to obey. But the ceremony of the covenant just prior to and directly following the vow of obedience, communicates the gracious presence and provision of God;
- Exodus 32:31-32 Moses offers himself as a substitute for the sins of Israel!
- Exodus 34:4-14 Must the covenant commands be obeyed? Yes! Are there blessings and curses attached to the commands? Yes!
- (8-9) BUT also operative is the forgiveness of God;
- Leviticus 1 The Burnt Offering, for general, corporate admission of sin, is a means of the people consecrating themselves unto God (Dt.13:16); the animal being without defect points to Christ, the spotless lamb of God, the fulfillment of the covenant stipulations;
- Leviticus 4 The Sin offering, for specific, personal atonement for sin, is a means of payment for sin, since must be punished; Notice how the punishment is laid upon the animal instead of the worshipper who committed the sin!
- Leviticus 7:15-18 The worshipper enjoys a meal in the presence of God, with the special blessing of God; in this context, all vows are made! Vows are never made in the context of self-merit; (all of these sacrifices, including the grain and the guilt offerings, not highlighted here, are fulfilled in Christ - I Peter 2:24; Romans 6:2-7; John 6:54-58;II Corinthians 3:18);
- Leviticus 16 The Day of Atonement is outlined; Atonement for sins only occurs in a Covenant of Grace! The covenant stipulations are broken; but God allows for these sins to be atoned for through representative sacrifice, as payment for sins rather than the culprit being cursed unto death;
- Leviticus 26
- (1-13) Rewards for obedience are temporal, tied to the symbols of God's eternal inheritance in Christ Jesus;
- (14-46) Punishments for disobedience are designed to move the rebel to repentance; (40) Covenant of Promise is still in effect in Moses' Day!
- Numbers 9:1-14 Why can ceremonially unclean people still celebrate the Passover? Because, God's grace and redemption, expressed through the Passover celebration is fundamental and primary to the law which renders a person ceremonially unclean; If someone fails to celebrate what is primary, that is God's redemptive love, he shall be cut off; But the person who is ceremonially unclean, who celebrates God's grace, is not penalized;
- Numbers 21:4-9 Grace during Moses' administration! Here in the bronze serpent on the pole, we see a picture of the sacrifice of Christ (John 3:14) and of the faith of his people in him;
- Deuteronomy 9
- (1-6) God makes it clear that his people have entered the land "not because of their righteousness or integrity."
- (7-29) The incident of worshipping the golden calf;
- (25-26) The basis is the Covenant of Grace since the promise God made to Abraham is still operative;
- Deuteronomy 28-30
- (28:1-14) Blessings outlined;
- (15-68) Curses outlined;
- (29) Covenant Renewal Ceremony
- (13) confirmation of the promise made to Abraham;
- (30:6) God will circumcise their hearts so that they might love him, thus obey him;
- (11f) Obedience is a matter of the heart and the promise made to Abraham and his seed.