|
|
Law of Moses
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to
bring us unto Christ..."
Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt and to Mount Sinai. He ascended the Mount and the Lord gave him laws to relay to the Children of Israel for them to accept by covenant in order to ready themselves to stand in His presence (Exodus 19-25). They accepted these laws by covenant. The Lord then gave instructions on building the tabernacle - His dwelling place among his Covenant People (Exodus 25-31). But while Moses went back up the Mount they lost faith he was going to return and, instead of building the tabernacle they built the Golden Calf (Exodus 32-33). Instead of giving His fulness to a people who weren't able to keep the least of his laws, the Lord instead gave them a law that would prepare them for the fullness of His gospel. (See JST Ex. 34:1-2; Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:19, 24; Ephesians 2:14-16; Hebrews 7:11, 18-19; 9:7-14; 2 Nephi 25:24-30; Mosiah 12:27 to 13:32; 3 Nephi 9:17; 15:1-8; D&C 84:23-27.)
Because we Christians
believe the Gospel of Christ is the fullness that the Law of Moses
prepared Israel to receive, there are those among us who feel they have
the right to scorn and make fun of that which they think is inferior. They
are so wrong - who in their right mind scorns and degrades the
schoolmaster who made them who they are today? A wise person honors and
respects the schoolmaster(s) of their youth, as do I. I do not live the
Law of Moses, but I give it full honor and respect for the foundation it
laid and the mission it fulfilled. And now to the Book of Mormon...
The Book of Mormon peoples came out of Jerusalem and were Israelites. They lived the Law of Moses until Christ came and announced it was fulfilled and gave them His Gospel. Their prophets taught that the Law of Moses was to prepare them for Christ's gospel.
2 Nephi 5:10 - "And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses."
2 Nephi 11:3-7 - my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given
2 Nephi 25:20-30 - for this end was the law given
Jacob 4:3-5 - And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him
Jarom 1:5, 10-11 - They observed to keep the law of Moses and the sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme
Mosiah 2:3 - "And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses..."
Mosiah 12:25 - 13:35: Doth salvation come by the law of Moses? … it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of Moses… salvation doth not come by the law alone
Mosiah 16:14-15: "Therefore, if ye teach the law of Moses, also teach that it is a shadow of those things which are to come - Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father."
Alma 25:15-16 - "Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled… they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them. Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses; but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ…”
Alma 30:3 - Yea, and the people did observe to keep the commandments of the Lord; and they were strict in observing the ordinances of God, according to the law of Moses; for they were taught to keep the law of Moses until it should be fulfilled.
Alma 34:8-15: "…it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away. "And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance."
Helaman 13:1 - did observe strictly to keep the commandments of God, according to the law of Moses
Helaman 15:5 - And I would that ye should behold that the more part of them are in the path of their duty, and they do walk circumspectly before God, and they do observe to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments according to the law of Moses.
3 Nephi 1:24-25 - Jesus Christ had been born in the Old World, and the Book of Mormon peoples had been given signs that He had been born... "And there were no contentions, save it were a few that began to preach, endeavoring to prove by the scriptures that it was no more expedient to observe the law of Moses. Now in this thing they did err, having not understood the scriptures. But it came to pass that they soon became converted, and were convinced of the error which they were in, for it was made known unto them that the law was not yet fulfilled, and that it must be fulfilled in every whit; yea, the word came unto them that it must be fulfilled; yea, that one jot or tittle should not pass away till it should all be fulfilled; therefore in this same year were they brought to a knowledge of their error and did confess their faults."
3 Nephi 9:15-22 - Jesus Christ had been crucified and was then resurrected. He appeared to the Book of Mormon peoples, and among many other things taught the following: "Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name. "I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled. And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled. "I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. "And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings. And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not. "Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin. Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved."
3 Nephi 12:17-20 - The Resurrected Jesus gave a discourse that compares to the Sermon on the Mount. In it He teaches: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy but to fulfil; For verily I say unto you, one jot nor one tittle hath not passed away from the law, but in me it hath all been fulfilled. "And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled. Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
3 Nephi 15:1-10 - At the conclusion of His first address to the Nephites, the Resurrected Savior teaches further about the Law of Moses being fulfilled: "AND now it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and said unto them: Behold, ye have heard the things which I taught before I ascended to my Father; therefore, whoso remembereth these sayings of mine and doeth them, him will I raise up at the last day. "And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the law of Moses; for they understood not the saying that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. "And he said unto them: Marvel not that I said unto you that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses. Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end. "Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled. And because I said unto you that old things have passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come. For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me. "Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life. Behold, I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me."
4 Nephi 1:12 - "And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the law of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord."
Moroni 8:8 - Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. ... the law of circumcision is done away in me."
Ether 12:10 - "Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God. Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled."
SEE IN THE BOOK OF MORMON INDEX:
|
|
|
|