The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Charles Leiter, Paul Washer, Neonomianism & New Cov. Theology

If I may ask, how is it that the law is separated in scripture? Does the scripture specifically state such a separation between moral and ceremonial law? The reason I am asking is this, that James said, "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law." (James 2:10-11) I have always, in my reading of scripture, understood the law to be one law, and that because there is no division, if one part is broken, then the whole is broken. Because of this, when I see Christ's finished work, I have seen the law of Moses being fulfilled in total because of this belief that the law is one law. And then Christ repeated aspects of the law, and in giving His New Covenant, gave us a law that is higher and greater than the law of Moses, a law which could only be fulfilled through the work of God the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which has set us free from the law of sin and death.

I am by no means an antinomian. I think antinomianism is death, just as legalism is, and that to say there is no law is blasphemous heresy to say the least. However, I do believe that the law of Moses, which still serves to be the schoolmaster to bring souls to Christ, was fulfilled in Christ for the elect, and that we are now under a higher, deeper, richer law. I actually hold the law of Christ extremely high. Do I believe Christ was clarifying the Old Covenant laws in Matthew when He made mention of adultery and murder? I believe He was taking the law that many saw as physically able to be kept, and under His law showed that in Him, these parts of His law could only be kept through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.

I agree with what you said wholeheartedly about salvation, that as part of faith alone, the fruit of repentance will be evident in the life of a believer. And this fruit will be a keeping of the law of Christ. Yes, Christ gave the Ten Commandments, but then in His incarnation, took the Ten Commandments, and gave us a deeper set, as shown above in Matthew. Does this mean we disregard the Ten Commandments? NO, because, as I said, these are now the schoolmaster which brings us to Christ.

But, my original question still stands. Can someone show me in scripture that the law of Moses is separated in scripture into divisions of moral and ceremonial law? Thanks so much for this discussion. I hope it is iron sharpening iron.