I am going to say this plainly and conclusively: the law that governs a slave is not the law that governs a son. These are not two versions of the same covenant. They are two entirely different administrations established at different times, with different mediators, different foundations, and different results.
To eliminate confusion
once and for all, I will define both systems clearly and then lay them side by
side.
I.
The Law That Governs a Slave (Outside of Christ)
The slave is the person
still under the covenant given at Sinai, the Mosaic covenant.
This covenant is
revealed in:
·
Exodus
·
Leviticus
·
Numbers
·
Deuteronomy
It includes:
1.
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)
2.
Civil legislation governing national
Israel
3.
Ceremonial regulations, sacrifices, priesthood, dietary laws, feast days
This law:
·
Is written on stone.
·
Commands obedience
externally.
·
Promises life upon
perfect performance.
·
Exposes sin but does not
remove it.
·
Produces fear and
bondage.
The slave relates to God
as Judge and stands before Him based on works.
II.
The Law That Governs a Son (In Christ)
The son is the person
united to Christ under the new covenant.
This covenant was
promised in Jeremiah 31 and established by Christ, explained thoroughly in
Hebrews 8.
The governing law is not
the Mosaic covenant. Scripture says believers are:
·
Not under law but under
grace (Romans 6)
·
Released from the law
(Romans 7)
·
No longer under a
guardian (Galatians 3)
Instead, the son is
governed by:
1.
The Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2)
2.
The Law of the Spirit of Life
(Romans 8:2)
3.
The Royal Law of Love (James 2:8)
And Christ’s defining
command:
This law:
·
Is written on the heart.
·
Is empowered by the
Spirit.
·
Flows from a finished
righteousness.
·
Produces freedom.
·
Is relational, not
national.
The son relates to God
as Father.
III.
The Difference Made Visible
Below is a direct
comparison. This removes ambiguity.
|
Category |
Slave (Under Mosaic Covenant) |
Son (Under New Covenant) |
|
Covenant |
Sinai
Covenant |
New
Covenant in Christ |
|
Mediator |
Moses |
Christ |
|
Primary
Text |
Exodus–Deuteronomy |
Hebrews
8; Galatians; Romans |
|
Law
Code |
613
commandments, including moral, civil,and ceremonial |
Law
of Christ; law of love |
|
Written
Where? |
Stone
tablets |
Heart |
|
Basis
of Standing |
Obedience
to commands |
Union
with Christ |
|
Relationship
to Law |
Under
it |
Released
from it |
|
Result |
Condemnation
when broken |
No
condemnation (Romans 8) |
|
Power
to Obey |
Human
effort |
Indwelling
Spirit |
|
Identity |
Servant/slave |
Adopted
son |
IV.
The Structural Change in Law
Hebrews 7 teaches that
when the priesthood changed, the law changed.
- Christ is not a Levitical priest.
- He is a priest of a different order.
- Therefore, the governing covenant necessarily changed.
If the law did not
change:
·
The old covenant would
still be binding.
·
The cross would not mark
covenantal transition.
·
The distinction between
slave and son would collapse.
But Scripture refuses
that collapse.
V.
The Core Distinction in One Final Chart
|
Identity |
Governing Principle |
Motivation |
Relationship to God |
Covenant Status |
|
Slave |
Written
code of Moses |
Fear
of penalty |
Judge |
Under the old covenant |
|
Son |
Law
of Christ through Spirit |
Love
and gratitude |
Father |
Under the new covenant |
The
Final Conclusion
These are not
overlapping systems. They are successive and structurally distinct.
And once that is seen
clearly, the difference between a slave and a son can never be confused again.
Former Adventists Philippines
“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”
For more inquiries, contact us:
Email: formeradventist.ph@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/formeradventistph
Former Adventists Philippines Association, Inc
SEC Registration No: 2025090219381-03
No comments:
Post a Comment