Mosaic Law (Reformed Baptist Perspective)

Definition:

The Mosaic Law refers to the body of laws, commandments, and regulations given by God to the Israelites through Moses, primarily found in the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch). The law is considered foundational to the life and governance of the people of Israel, and it covers a wide range of areas, including moral behavior, religious observances, civil laws, and ceremonial practices. It is divided into three main categories: moral law, ceremonial law, and civil law.

The Mosaic Law was a key feature of the Mosaic Covenant and was intended to govern the relationship between Israel and God, as well as the society in which they lived. While the law is central to Israel's identity as God's chosen people, in the New Testament, Christians understand that the law's ultimate purpose was to point forward to Christ.

Key Components of the Mosaic Law:

1. Moral Law: The moral law includes the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and other ethical commandments given by God to guide His people in living according to His holiness and justice. These laws reflect God’s nature and are considered universally applicable to all people.

   Key Aspects of the Moral Law:

   • The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21)
   • The call to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40)
   • Instructions regarding justice, honesty, and purity.

   Example:

   • Exodus 20:1-17: "You shall have no other gods before me" (the first commandment), along with others like “Honor your father and mother,” and “You shall not murder.”

2. Ceremonial Law: The ceremonial law consisted of regulations concerning religious rituals, sacrifices, festivals, and the priesthood. These laws were designed to maintain holiness and purity in Israel's worship of God. They pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who would fulfill all sacrificial requirements through His death.

   Key Aspects of the Ceremonial Law:

   • Sacrifices and Offerings: Instructions on burnt offerings, sin offerings, peace offerings, etc. (Leviticus 1-7).
   • Feasts and Festivals: Observance of feasts like Passover, Feast of Weeks, and Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23).
   • Priestly Duties and Holiness: Laws regulating the priesthood and temple worship (Exodus 28-29, Leviticus 8-10).
   • Cleansing Rituals: Rules for ritual purity, such as regarding leprosy, menstruation, and bodily fluids (Leviticus 11-15).

   Example:

   • Leviticus 16: Instructions for the Day of Atonement, where a goat is sent into the wilderness to symbolically carry away the sins of Israel.

3. Civil Law: The civil law included regulations for the organization and governance of Israel as a nation. These laws provided guidelines for justice, property rights, penalties for crimes, and social relationships. While these laws were specific to Israel as a theocratic nation, they reflect principles of justice and order that still hold moral relevance today.

   Key Aspects of the Civil Law:

   • Social Justice: Laws concerning the treatment of the poor, the alien, and the marginalized (Exodus 22:21-27, Leviticus 19:9-10).
   • Property and Theft: Regulations on theft, restitution, and property rights (Exodus 22:1-15, Leviticus 6:1-7).
   • Punishments and Penalties: Specific punishments for various offenses such as murder, theft, adultery, and blasphemy (Exodus 21, Deuteronomy 19).

   Example:

   • Exodus 21:12: "Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death."

Purpose of the Mosaic Law:

1. To Reveal God’s Holiness: The Mosaic Law reveals the perfect holiness of God and the impossibility of humans meeting God’s standards by their own efforts. It shows the depth of human sinfulness and our need for a Savior.

   Romans 7:7 – “What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.”

2. To Govern the Nation of Israel: The Mosaic Law was given to Israel as a theocratic nation to set them apart as God's holy people. It governed their religious observances, civil life, and social justice.

   Exodus 19:6 – “And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

3. To Point to Christ: The law ultimately points to the need for Christ, who fulfills the righteous requirements of the law and provides the atoning sacrifice for sin. The ceremonial law, in particular, foreshadows Christ's work on the cross.

   Galatians 3:24 – “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”

4. To Encourage Obedience: While the Mosaic Law could never save (since no one could keep it perfectly), it was designed to guide the people of Israel toward a righteous life. It provided the ethical framework for how to love God and neighbor.

   Deuteronomy 10:12-13 – “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord…”

The Mosaic Law and the New Covenant:

1. The Law as Temporary: Reformed Baptists believe that the Mosaic Law, while valuable and divinely inspired, was temporary and has been fulfilled in Christ. The moral law, however, still provides guidance for Christian living, as its principles reflect God’s eternal moral standards.

   Matthew 5:17 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

2. The Believer’s Relationship to the Law: Believers in Christ are no longer under the Mosaic Law, especially in terms of ceremonial and civil aspects, as these were fulfilled in Christ. However, they are still called to live according to the moral law, not as a means of salvation but as a reflection of their relationship with God.

   Romans 10:4 – “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

3. Christ's Fulfillment of the Law: Jesus perfectly obeyed the Mosaic Law and became the final sacrifice for sin, which rendered the sacrificial system obsolete. The New Covenant, established through Christ’s death and resurrection, does not require adherence to the Mosaic Law’s rituals but calls for faith in Christ and obedience to His commands.

   Hebrews 10:10 – “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Theological Implications for Reformed Baptists:

1. The Law and the Gospel: Reformed Baptists see the Mosaic Law as revealing God’s holiness and our need for grace. The law points to Christ, who fulfills it on behalf of believers. Christians are not bound by the law's ceremonial or civil requirements, but they are called to live out its moral implications through faith in Christ.

2. The Law’s Role in the Life of the Church: While the law cannot save, its moral precepts guide Christian ethics. The New Covenant does not abolish the law but transforms how believers relate to it—through Christ, not through works.

3. The Fulfillment of the Law in Christ: Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of the Mosaic Law, and His work on the cross satisfies the demands of the law for believers. As such, believers are no longer condemned by the law but are freed to live in righteousness through the Spirit.

Sources for Further Study:

• Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology – Provides a comprehensive discussion of the Mosaic Law and its role in God's redemptive plan.
• John Owen, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ – Explores how Christ fulfills the law’s demands and provides atonement for sin.
• R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God – Discusses the holiness of God as revealed through the Mosaic Law.
• Michael Horton, The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way – Offers insights into the relationship between the Mosaic Law and the New Covenant.
• Greg Bahnsen, Theonomy in Christian Ethics – Engages with the ongoing relevance of biblical law for today’s believers.