For starters, let's define the intent and purpose of the Mosaic Law:
1 - It revealed the holiness of God to the nation of Israel (Leviticus 19:2]; 20:7–8).
2 - It set the nation of Israel completely apart from all the other nations around her (Exodus 19:5).
3 - It showed the sinfulness of man (cf. Galatians 3:19). Where it's true that the Mosaic Law was/is good, (Romans 7:12), it had no capacity to save anyone. “No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin” (Romans 3:20; cf. Acts 13:38–39).
4 - The sacrificial elements provided sin covering (Leviticus 1—7) for Israelis who had faith in the Lord.
5 - Described a way of worship and remembrance of the great things the Lord did for the nation of Israel and the world, through the yearly feasts (Leviticus 23).
6 - Showed God’s direction for the physical and spiritual health of the nation (Exodus 21—23; Deuteronomy 6:4–19; Psalm 119:97–104).
7 - Demonstrated to all humanity that no one can keep the Law perfectly since we all fall short of God’s standard of holiness, which causes us to rely on God’s mercy and grace. When Christ came, He fulfilled the Law, through His obedience unto death He paid the penalty for our breaking the Law (Galatians 3:24; Romans 10:4). By faith in Christ, the believer is the very righteousness of of God in Christ, righteousness which is to us.
The purpose of the Mosaic Law raises these questions: “Are you trusting in yourself to keep all the Ten Commandments all the time (which you can’t do)?” OR “Have you made the choice to accept Jesus as your Savior, realizing that He has fulfilled all the commandments all the time for you, even paying your penalty for breaking them?” The choice is yours.
1 - It revealed the holiness of God to the nation of Israel (Leviticus 19:2]; 20:7–8).
2 - It set the nation of Israel completely apart from all the other nations around her (Exodus 19:5).
3 - It showed the sinfulness of man (cf. Galatians 3:19). Where it's true that the Mosaic Law was/is good, (Romans 7:12), it had no capacity to save anyone. “No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin” (Romans 3:20; cf. Acts 13:38–39).
4 - The sacrificial elements provided sin covering (Leviticus 1—7) for Israelis who had faith in the Lord.
5 - Described a way of worship and remembrance of the great things the Lord did for the nation of Israel and the world, through the yearly feasts (Leviticus 23).
6 - Showed God’s direction for the physical and spiritual health of the nation (Exodus 21—23; Deuteronomy 6:4–19; Psalm 119:97–104).
7 - Demonstrated to all humanity that no one can keep the Law perfectly since we all fall short of God’s standard of holiness, which causes us to rely on God’s mercy and grace. When Christ came, He fulfilled the Law, through His obedience unto death He paid the penalty for our breaking the Law (Galatians 3:24; Romans 10:4). By faith in Christ, the believer is the very righteousness of of God in Christ, righteousness which is to us.
The purpose of the Mosaic Law raises these questions: “Are you trusting in yourself to keep all the Ten Commandments all the time (which you can’t do)?” OR “Have you made the choice to accept Jesus as your Savior, realizing that He has fulfilled all the commandments all the time for you, even paying your penalty for breaking them?” The choice is yours.
