Romans: Justification, Faith, and Imputed Righteousness: Sola Fide And Justification

Promises Of The Law - Part 1

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2019-03-03

Synopsis: In this introductory sermon, Pastor John Weaver argues that the Old Testament law contains promises, not just precepts, and that these promises are still valid for believers today. He distinguishes between the law as a means of justification (which it never was) and the law as a guide for living. He refutes the idea that Christians should 'unhitch' from the Old Testament, showing from Scripture that the law is holy, just, and good, and that Christ came to fulfill it, not destroy it. The sermon lays groundwork for a series on the promises found in the Mosaic law.

[John Weaver] 1 Kings 8 and verse 56. 1 Kings 8 and verse 56. This is the first message in a series entitled, The Promises of the Law.

[John Weaver] the promises of the law. How many there will be, I don't know. I'm sure close to 20 or more. But the promises of the law, 1 Kings 8 and verse 56, Solomon is praying, and in his prayer he says this, Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised. not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant." The very phrase, the promises of the law, seems strange to our ears and contradictory to our thinking. When we think of the law, we normally think of precepts and statutes and judgments, but we do not usually think of promises. Yet the truth is there is indeed promises in the law, Solomon certainly mentioned these in I Kings 18 verse 56. The word promise is really not necessary in order to have a lawful and legitimate promise. Usually when we are making promises we will say something like this, I promise you. But if Steve and I were going to work together, I could say something like this to Steve, if you will do this for me, then I will do that for you."

[John Weaver] So, basically, I have promised Him that if He responds in one particular way, then I'll respond in another way. So, it is basically a promise, although I've not used the word promise. In other words, I have obligated myself, and so therefore it is indeed a promise.

[John Weaver] Now, there is a valid distinction, and I might also add a vital distinction, between the promises of the law and the promise that was given to Abraham, Isaac, and David. The promise of salvation is in opposition to the law for a very simple reason. The law could not save, did not save, and was never intended to save. No one can be justified, no one can be saved by keeping the law. No one can be saved by works.

[John Weaver] Now I'm going to quote some scriptures, and I want you to listen very carefully, because in the future I'm going to come back to these scriptures, and we're going to be looking at them. But right now I just want to lay upon you and emphasize one thing, that salvation is not by the law and could never be by the law. Romans 3 and verse 20 tells us this, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. So very pointedly, there is no one justified by deeds of the law. In Romans 3 and verse 28, therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Again, the Word of God is telling us we cannot be justified by the law. Galatians 2 and verse 16, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

[John Weaver] It cannot get any plainer than this, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. The apostle said in Galatians 2 and verse 21, I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. So righteousness cannot come by the law for salvation. And then Galatians 3 and verse 18, the apostle said, For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Now, I want to tell you something about the law.

[John Weaver] I've said this many times before. And I'm probably going to say it a number of times before we finish this series. But the law demands three things from every individual. It demands a personal obedience, a perfect obedience, and a perpetual obedience. Obviously, no one can render to the law that which it demands. The only one that has ever Render to the law that which it demands is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, who is indeed the God-man."

[John Weaver] So let me just demonstrate this. If you were somehow, in some way, by a miracle of God's grace, if you were to become absolutely perfect today, you never sinned again the rest of your life, either in thought, word, or deed. you were absolutely, totally perfect. Would that get you into heaven? And the answer is no. Because what about all those sins that you committed before you got perfect?

[John Weaver] They would have to be dealt with, and they would have to be answered. So obviously the Scripture is making it clear that no one can be justified by the works, or by law keeping. All of that is absolutely impossible.

[John Weaver] Now when I speak concerning the promises of the Law, I'm not necessarily speaking about salvation. Salvation did not come by the Law. Salvation came by faith in Jesus Christ. However, I'm going to point out in the future that there could not be a real genuine salvation without the Law. Although salvation did not come by the Law, it came by the Lord Jesus Christ, who rendered a perfect obedience to the Law, and was also the perfect sacrifice.

[John Weaver] If you look in I Kings 8 and verse 56 again, Solomon says,"'Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto His people Israel according to all that He promised.' Note now,"'There hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant.'" So obviously there are promises in the law. And if you'll look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Joshua, the book of Joshua. Notice if you would, Joshua 23 and verse 14.

[John Weaver] Then we'll go to the New Testament. Joshua chapter 23, verse 14. After the book of Deuteronomy, you have the book of Joshua. Joshua, notice, 23 and verse 14. The promises here are referred to as good things. Notice in Joshua 23 and verse 14, Joshua says, And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth, that is, He's dying. And you know in all your hearts and all your souls that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you. All are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. In Joshua 23 the promises here are referred to as the good things. Now if you would turn over in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 8 and look at verse 6. Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 6.

[John Weaver] I want you to follow with me because I want you to see what the Scripture says very plainly. Hebrews chapter 8 and note if you would please verse 6. But now hath he, that is the Lord Jesus Christ, obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." Now if the New Covenant was established upon better promises, then obviously the Old Covenant had promises as well. But the New Covenant just is superior. It has better promises. So obviously then we do indeed have promises in the Old Testament. In fact, the Bible tells us in 1st, or not in 1st, but in 2 Corinthians 1 and verse 20, for all the promises of God in him are yea and amen to the glory of God. So it doesn't matter if the promise is in the Old Testament or the promise is in the New Testament. All the promises in Jesus Christ are yea and amen to the glory of God the Father.

[John Weaver] I've already made this statement, but I'm going to show it to you from Scripture. You do not have to have the word promise in order to have a promise. I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy 7, if you would. Deuteronomy 7, and we're going to begin reading at verse 12, and read through verse 15. Deuteronomy 7, verse 12. And I want you to note, if you would, that there are promises that are clearly stated here without the use of the word promise. So Deuteronomy 7 verse 12, Wherefore it shall come to pass, if you hearken to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers. And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee, He will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thine kind, and the flocks of thy sheep, and the land which He sware unto thy fathers to

[John Weaver] give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people. There shall not be male nor female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee, but will lay them upon all them that hate thee."

[John Weaver] Now, obviously, there are promises in these verses, although the word promise is not used. So God is saying, if you obey Me and do that which is right, I promise you blessings. And here are some of these blessings that are listed. If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy 29 and verse 29. Deuteronomy 29 and verse 29. I'm sorry, verse 9, Deuteronomy 29 and verse 9, God says, Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them that you may prosper in all that you do. So here is an implied promise. If we are obedient, then God is going to make us promise or prosper in all that we do. If you would turn right on over now to the book of Joshua chapter 1, you will see this thought exemplified and what God said to Joshua. Joshua 1, beginning there with verse 7, Joshua 1, verse 7, God says to Joshua, Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee.

[John Weaver] Turn not from it to the right hand, or to the left. Why? That thou mayest prosper, whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, But thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein. For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then shalt thou have good success." So God says, as long as you obey Me, you're going to be prosperous, and you're going to have good success. Now, you have to understand that there are indeed promises in the law. There are also curses in the law. I'm not going to go over this now, because I'll be going over it in the future. But if you want to understand the sanctions that are mentioned in the Bible, and a sanction can be either good or bad, it can be positive or negative, all you have to do is read Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, because there are blessings if you obey, and there are curses if you disobey.

[John Weaver] Now what is happening today, and what has happened in time past, is that there are a lot of people that are coming out and they are denying and denigrating the Old Testament. In fact, there was one pastor who said recently, and I'm quoting, he said it publicly in a sermon, that it is time to unhitch from the Old Testament. This same pastor also denounced the Ten Commandments. Now, you know, I can understand unbeliever denouncing the Ten Commandments and even denouncing the Bible, but not a Christian and not a pastor. I can understand why in Washington and in our state capitals they do not want the Ten Commandments posted, because that makes a hostile workforce for them, you know, and a hostile work environment, so they don't want to be reminded, thou shalt not steal and thou shalt not kill. understand that. But for a pastor to come up and say, it's time to unhitch from the Old Testament. And so many have gone so far as they're going to relegate the Old Testament to a theological dump.

[John Weaver] And they're basically saying it has no value, it has no application, and it is basically worthless, and they are denying the validity of the Old Testament. Well, let me give you some Scriptures. How about this one, most of you know this one, 2 Corinthians, not 2 Corinthians, I'm sorry, 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, where the Scripture says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may

[John Weaver] be perfect, thoroughly furnished, and all good works. Now the Bible says all Scripture is inspired of God. All Scripture is God-breathed. Now, if the Old Testament is Scripture, then it is inspired. And the only way that you can deny the Old Testament is by denying that it is the inspiration of God. So very clearly, obviously, this passage tells us that we are indeed to honor the Old Testament because it is Scripture. It is God-breathed.

[John Weaver] May I remind you that our Lord when He was tempted in Matthew chapter 4, you remember there He was in the wilderness for 40 days, 40 nights tempted of the evil one? And He said, If thou be the Son of God, and by the way in that temptation and each one of those temptations where it says if, in the Greek it's a with the indicative which means since. was, Satan was not questioning whether or not he was the Son of God. Literally what he was saying is since you are the Son of God, command these stones that they may be turned into bread. And our Lord responded, it is written, man shall live by every word of God that proceedeth out of his mouth. So if Old Testament is the Word of God. It proceeds from the mouth of God. And someone who would deny, and denigrate, and denounce the Old Testament has to deny, and denigrate, and denounce God Himself, because God breathed these Scriptures. They are indeed the inspired Word of God. May I also remind you of this, in Romans 15 and verse 4.

[John Weaver] The Apostle Paul said, for once everything's were written aforetime. He's talking about the Old Testament. Once everything was written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Once everything was written aforetime, was written for our learning. Now the interesting thing is this, both of these passages, Romans 15 and verse 4, 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17 have reference to the Old Testament.

[John Weaver] How do we know that? Because when Paul wrote in Romans 15 and verse 4, and in 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, the New Testament had not been completed. He was talking primarily of the Old Testament. Of course it would apply to whatever was written in the New Testament at that particular time. But primarily it had reference to the Old Testament. And may I also remind you that in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, the Apostle Paul took what happened to Israel in the Old Testament and applied it to the Corinthian church.

[John Weaver] And twice in that passage he says, these are our examples. So he brought what happened to Israel out of the Old Testament and made an application to the Corinthian church in the New Testament.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to turn in your Bibles if you would to Matthew chapter 5, And let's begin reading there with verse 17. I want you to see what our Lord says. Matthew chapter 5 and verse 17. Watch carefully. Matthew 5 verse 17. Our Lord says, Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

[John Weaver] Now let me just stop there for a moment. Think not. the impact of these words are the same as when the Apostle Paul said, God forbid. Literally when our Lord says, think not, here's what He's saying, don't even let this thought enter into your mind. Perish the thought. So He says, think not, don't even begin to let this thought enter into your mind, that I'm come to destroy the law or the prophets. I'm not come to destroy but to fulfill. And the word destroy there literally means to abrogate, to nullify, to set aside, to invalidate. God said, I didn't come to do that. He said, I came to fulfill. Plurao means to put into full force as continuous. So He says, don't even let this enter into your mind.

[John Weaver] Verse 18, For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle, shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

[John Weaver] Now, the interesting thing is, our Lord said in verse 17, and I'll come back to this passage, but He says, think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill." The phrase, the law and the prophets, refer to the totality of the Old Testament. Let me show you how this is used. In Matthew chapter 22, if you want to turn right over there, Matthew chapter 22, our Lord has been asked, what is the greatest of the commandments?

[John Weaver] He does not cite one of the ten. Look if you would please, verse 36, Matthew 22, Master, which is the great commandment in the law. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment, and the second is likened to it, thou shalt love thy neighbors thyself." Now watch verse 40, on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. All the law and the prophets.

[John Weaver] Now, when we think of our divisions in the Old Testament, we think about, we say, there's the law, there's the historical books, there's the poetical books, there's the major prophets, there's the minor prophets. But in Bible times they just simply referred to the Old Testament as the Law and the Prophets. Why? Because the first five books were written by Moses, which is the Law. All the other books are prophetical books, even though they are historical. Yes, there's prophecy in the historical books. The poetical books, yes, there's prophecy there.

[John Weaver] Look at Psalm 22, Psalm 23, Psalm 24. Look at, you know, you have prophecy there. So it was just the Old Testament that was referred to as the Law and the Prophets.

[John Weaver] Now, turn right on over, if you would please, to the book of John, chapter 1, and look, if you would please, at verse 45. John 1, verse 45, here's what Philip says. John 1, verse 45, Philip findeth Nathanael, and said unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph. Note he called them the law and the prophets. If you would turn right over to Acts chapter 13 and look at verse 15. Acts 13 verse 15. Again, the Bible says this, and we're referring to the Old Testament. After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, You men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. So, what indeed do the Law and the Prophets refer to? The totality of the Old Testament. If you look in Acts chapter 24 and verse 14, Acts 24, and verse 14. Here it is again. The Apostle Paul says, But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.

[John Weaver] One last passage here, look in Acts 28 and verse 23. Acts 28 and verse 23, because Paul is now in his own hired house and he's teaching. And in Acts 28 and verse 23, the Bible says, And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning until evening. Wow!

[John Weaver] Now our Lord said, do not even begin to think, don't even let it enter into your mind that I've come to destroy the law of the prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill. So if our Lord did not come to set them aside, obviously it would be unwise for you and I to try to set them aside. It would be unwise for you and I to try to unhitch from the Old Testament, or to denounce the Old Testament in any way whatsoever.

[John Weaver] What we should do today is develop their implications and applications in our present day setting. Now, there are very serious problems in denying the Old Testament and its application for today. You've heard me say this in times past. I'm going to say it again. Listen carefully. That the New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed. And the Old Testament is in the New Testament In other words, there is a continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament. And if you denigrate and denounce and deny the Old Testament, then by the same token you are denigrating, denouncing, and denying the New Testament. Did you know, according to the Blue Book, not the Blue Book, but the Blue Letter Bible, I want to say the blue book. Anybody know why I want to say the blue book? The McGuffey readers, the blue book speller, yeah. But the Blue Letter Bible says that there are 855 quotes from the Old Testament in the New Testament.

[John Weaver] Now stop and think about it. 855 direct quotes from the Old Testament in the New Testament. That does not count the 493 allusions that are in the New Testament to the Old Testament, nor does it count the 138 possible allusions back to the Old Testament. So the New Testament has its foundation in the Old Testament. And you try to destroy the Old Testament at the same time you're going to destroy the New Testament as well. And did you know, by the way, the very First verse in the New Testament teaches the continuity of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Because the very first verse in the New Testament is Matthew 1 and verse 1, which says very clearly, the book of generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. And you have to know who David was and Abraham in order to know who Jesus Christ really was. And the Canon Bible website says, that Jesus Christ Himself quoted from 24 different Old Testament books.

[John Weaver] Obviously, when He said, I came not to destroy the law or the prophets, but I came to fulfill, He did not set them aside. And when you understand Psalm 119 and verse 89, when the Bible says, Forever, O Lord, is thy word settled in the heavens. obviously it's not going to be set aside either. So, let me point something else out that's very emphatic. There's a lot today being said against just the book of Genesis. In fact, there's a lot being said against the first 11 chapters of Genesis. Those first 11 chapters are being denied left and right by evolutionists, by men who do not believe the doctrine of creation, Why is there such an attack on the first 11 chapters of Genesis? And the answer is because every major doctrine of the Bible is found in those first 11 chapters in seed form. And if you can destroy those first 11 chapters then you can destroy the entire Bible. So obviously if you are going to try to deny the Old Testament then you are also going to deny the New Testament.

[John Weaver] If you do away with the Old Testament, how in the world will you ever learn anything about the holiness of God, the justice of God, or the mercy of God? But even a greater question would be this. How would you even know who Jesus Christ is? How would you know about His so great salvation? How could you even prove who He was without the Old Testament? How could you even see prophecy or understand prophecy being fulfilled if you deny the Old Testament? You see, the truth of the matter is this. Grace does not destroy the law of God. We often hear Christian people say, well, we're not under the law, we're under grace.

[John Weaver] And they have no idea what they're saying. It is true that we are not under the law as a standard for justification. The law of God is not our standard for salvation. It is true that we are under the standard of grace. I'm going to point this out in just a few minutes. It's true we are under the standard of grace, but grace does not nullify the law of God.

[John Weaver] It does not negate it. The Old Testament is full of law, but it's also full of grace. Do you remember? In Galatians 6 and verse 8, but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Anybody that's ever been saved has been saved by grace. If you think that people in the Old Testament were saved by law keeping, you're mistaken. No one has ever been saved by keeping the law. Anyone that's ever been saved has been saved by grace. Even Moses, the lawgiver, in Exodus 33 and verse 13 prayed and said, Now therefore I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, and that I may find grace in thy sight, and consider that this nation is thy people. He's praying for grace. Even Gideon in Judges 6 and verse 17 said, If I have now found grace in thy sight, Show me a sign that thou talk with me." So simply because we are justified by grace and not by works does not mean that we can live any way that we choose.

[John Weaver] That does not mean that we can live any way that we please. The apostle Paul dealt with this in Romans 6 and verse 1 and 2 when he said this, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. That is, parents of thought don't even think that. How shall we who are dead to sin live any longer therein? So when someone says, well, I'm saved by grace, I can do as I please. No. Grace enables us to be obedient. It is the law that gives us direction as to how to live and how to please God. It is the law that teaches us that we're dead to sin because of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, when you read through the New Testament, you're going to find negative passages concerning the law of God. If you will take the time to look at the context, you will find that there are four explanations that will explain those negative passages in the context, and usually the context is going to be one of these four explanations. The first one is very simple. There are those passages that deny or denounce the Law of God as a means of justification.

[John Weaver] We're not saved by works. We're not saved by keeping the Law. No one has ever been saved by keeping the Law, neither can we be saved in that way. The Bible says in Galatians 2 and verse 16, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law, for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified. That's a negative passage. It's denouncing the law as the means or the standard of justification. Most Christians will read Romans 7 and verse 14, and they'll say, Aha, here's a verse that proves absolutely that the law has nothing to do with us. Because Romans 7, 14 says this, For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you're not under the law, but under grace. Aha, I'm not under the law, I'm under grace.

[John Weaver] Well, what about the context? The Apostle Paul starts his argument for justification by faith alone in Romans 3 and verse 31, and it runs all the way through Romans chapter 8. And if you would read the context of Romans 6 and 7, you'll find what the Apostle is saying there We are not under the standard of the law for justification, but we are under the standard of grace. So Romans 7.14 is not saying that the law has been done away with, it's been invalidated, it's been negated, it's been abrogated, it's been set aside. No. It's just saying the law is not our standard. The opposite of that you will find in Galatians 5 and verse 4. Listen to this one. The Apostle said, Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever you are justified by the law, you're fallen from grace. Now, when the Apostle Paul says that someone is fallen from grace, does not mean that they were saved and they lost their salvation. Listen to what he said, Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever you are justified by the law, you're fallen from grace.

[John Weaver] He is saying, that if you seek to be justified by the law, you're seeking to be justified by a different standard. And Christ is absolutely no effect unto you, and you've fallen, that is, you've left the standard of grace. So, you can either be justified by grace or seek to be justified by the law, and if you're seeking to be justified by the law, you're seeking to be justified by works and not by grace. So when the Apostle Paul says we're not under the law, but we're under grace, he's not saying the law's been done away with. He's just simply saying it's not our standard for justification.

[John Weaver] How about this one in Romans 10 and verse 4? The Bible says, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. Now that doesn't say that Christ ended the law. It says that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Why is He the end of the law for righteousness? Because He obeyed the law personally, perfectly, and perpetually, and He's the only one that worked out a perfect righteousness. I don't need to seek righteousness by my works because Christ worked it out perfectly. It's not saying that He's done away with or destroyed the law. Righteousness is only by Jesus Christ. because he's the only one that gave to the law that which it demands.

[John Weaver] So, there are negative passages that deny and denounce the law as a means of justification. Secondly, there are negative passages that refer to the death-dealing nature of sin in relation to the law. Well, the apostles said, in Romans 7 and verse 10, and the commandment which was ordained to life I found to be death. What? The commandment which was ordained to life I found to be death. Really, Paul?

[John Weaver] How could you say that? Well, you remember Paul also said, I was alive once without the law, but when the law came, sin revived and I died. In other words, I thought I was all right. Until I saw the spiritual application of God's law, then sin revived and I died. That which I thought was life turned out to be death to me. Why? Romans 6, 23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And what did it say in 1 John 3 and verse 4? Whosoever committed sin transgresseth the law, for sin is the transgression of the law. So you have these passages then that refer to the death-dealing nature of sin in relationship to the Law. Okay? Now, there are those passages that deny and denounce the Law as a means of justification. There are those passages that refer to the death-dealing nature of sin in relationship to the Law. Then thirdly, there are those passages that deal with the curse of the Law.

[John Weaver] Let me show you. If you will turn in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Galatians 3. Galatians 3. Notice if you would please, verse 10. Galatians 3, verse 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written, everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." So God says, if you do not render to the law that personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience, you're under its curse. There are these passages that refer to the curse of the law. And the curse of the law comes upon those who sin. Well, if you would skip down to chapter 5, and look, if you would please, at verse 13.

[John Weaver] Not, let's see, that's not the passage that I want. Galatians 5, I can quote it. Oh, okay, it's the same, same chapter. I'm sorry, it's Galatians 3, verse 13. Galatians 3, verse 13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. So, the law that cursed us, our Lord has redeemed us from that curse by being the perfect sacrifice and by giving a perfect obedience. Now, consequently, we are no longer under the curse. Note, if you would, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us. So here is a passage then that talks about the Law and the curse that people are under who have not been redeemed by the work and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ did not redeem us from the Law. He redeemed us from the curse of the Law. The Law is still in effect. It is still in existence. It is still applicable.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm going to point this out in the future, but I will tell you right now, there is not even any sanctification without the Law, because the Law is our direction, and we have to obey God's Word, and as the Holy Spirit works in us and enables us to obey, then we are indeed sanctified. But here's a passage that deals with the curses and Anytime you begin to look at a context, you can see that the negative passages can be explained either by denying or denouncing it as a means of justification, the death, the nature of sin in relationship to the Law, or those passages referred to the curse of the Law. There's a fourth one. If you would turn right over to the book of Ephesians chapter 2, Ephesians chapter 2, Look if you would, beginning there with verse 13, and we'll read through verse 17.

[John Weaver] And that is, those passages that refer to the ceremonial ordinances, or the rituals that were in the Old Testament. Notice if you would, Galatians chapter, I'm sorry, Ephesians chapter 2, verse 13. He says, But now in Christ Jesus, you who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, that wall that separated, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, now watch carefully, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace, and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." Note, if you would, verse 15, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments, He doesn't stop there. He's not talking about the Ten Commandments. He says, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances. So we're talking about the ceremonies and the rituals of the tabernacle and of the temple.

[John Weaver] Jesus Christ has fulfilled all of the pictures, all of the types, all the emblems, He is reality. We no longer have the picture because we have the reality. That's why the Bible says in I Corinthians 5 and verse 7, For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. I said to one brother this morning who was asking me about this passage. His wife was sitting by him, and so I asked him, I said, had you rather kiss your wife or kiss a picture of your wife?

[John Weaver] Stop and think about this. Whatever you have of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament is a picture. What we have in the New Testament is the reality. Okay? He took away all of these rituals. When I say He took them away, let me explain it. He fulfilled them. In reality, none of God's law has been set aside. It has been fulfilled by all of these rituals, and all of these ceremonies, and all of these pictures, and all these types. So let me explain it like this. Do you remember in the Old Testament, if you wanted to worship God, You had to bring a sacrifice.

[John Weaver] You had to come to the priest. You had to come to the altar. You had to come to the temple. And if you didn't do those things, you didn't worship God. Well, the same is true in the New Testament. If you don't do those things, you don't worship God. But we have to understand Jesus Christ, according to Hebrews 13 and verse 10, is our altar. Jesus Christ is our sacrifice. Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest. Jesus Christ is our temple. And so we come to God the Father, bringing a sacrifice, Jesus Christ. We come to Him as our Great High Priest. We come to Him and He brings us to God the Father.

[John Weaver] Everything that the law required in those ceremonies, He is in reality. So He's fulfilled that very clearly.

[John Weaver] Now, any time you find a negative passage in the New Testament concerning the law, if you will study the context, you will find that one of these four explanations will explain the negative context or the negative passage concerning the law. Okay?

[John Weaver] Now, let me try to tie this together and try to make some applications. First of all is this, the Word of God tells us in Romans 7, And verse 12, listen carefully, God says, Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good. Now if the law is holy, if the law is just, if the law is good, why would God nullify it? Why would God abrogate it? Why would God set it aside? And when you posit a change in the law, you also have to posit a change in God, for His Word is like Himself. It is immutable. Let me show you.

[John Weaver] Go back in your Bibles, if you would, to Matthew 5. Matthew 5. And I want you to look, if you would please, at verse 17 again. I also want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 119. Psalm 119. Go ahead and find that passage, please. Some of you may have what I'm going to refer to. Some of you may not, but that's okay. So here we go. Look at Matthew 5 and verse 17. Our Lord says, Think not that I am come to destroy the law of the prophets, I'm not come to destroy, but to fulfill." So he says, I'm not come to set aside any of the Old Testament, not the first little bit.

[John Weaver] Then he says this, For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Now notice if you would, in verse 17 he says, the law or the prophets. Now in verse 18 he singles out the law. He says, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

[John Weaver] Now let me show you how precise our Lord is, and let me show you how He is telling us that the law is still valid. He said, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. So what is a jot, or jod, or yod? If you would turn in your Bibles to Psalm 119, and look right above verse 73. Psalm 119 is an acrostic, and each eight verses begins with a Hebrew letter, the same Hebrew letter. If you have these letters in your Bible, you will find a jod or a jot right above verse 73. Now if it's not in your Bible, if you'll watch my finger, I will make this Hebrew letter for you. Now watch it, you didn't see it. Number one, you weren't looking. Number two, it's too small. It's kind of like our comma, just smaller. So our Lord said, it's easier for heaven and earth to pass away than it is for the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet to pass from the law till all be fulfilled.

[John Weaver] That sounds pretty valid to me and pretty abiding. And then he goes on to say this, watch it in verse 17 again. Think not that I'm come to destroy the law of the prophets, I'm not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass one jot or one tittle, shall a no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." What is a tittle?

[John Weaver] Well, let me write the word, our English word, little for you. Watch my finger. L-I-T-T-L-E.

[John Weaver] Now, I made my T's a little fat like my L. How do you know which is a T and how do you know which is an L? Oh, I'll solve that problem for you. I'll go back, put this little marker across my T. How do you tell the L from the I? Oh, I'll go back. I'll put a little dot over the I. A tittle is not even a letter. A tittle is a small distinguishing mark between two Hebrew letters. Jesus Christ said it's easier for heaven and earth to pass away than it is for the smallest Hebrew letter or the smallest distinguishing mark between two Hebrew letters to pass until all of the law be fulfilled.

[John Weaver] That sounds abiding to me. That sounds valid to me. When he says, do not even begin to think that I've come to set it aside. No, I've come to fulfill.

[John Weaver] Secondly, if God's law is so holy that it required the perfect obedience and death of His Son, After all that our Lord paid and suffered, why would God now set it aside? Why would He nullify it? Why would He abrogate it? Why would He say, I didn't mean it, it's no longer there? No. If that law was so holy and so just and demanded the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, and demanded the obedience of His Son, Jesus Christ, Do you think after all our Lord suffered and went through that our Lord said, well, I really didn't mean it, it's no good now? Of course not. Of course not. God is not going to abandon His holy law, for His law is an expression of Himself.

[John Weaver] You know what the Bible says in Malachi 3 and verse 6? It proclaims God's immutability, God's unchangeableness. He said, I, the Lord, change not. Therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed. I don't know about you, but in light of that latter part, I want God to be immutable. I want it to be unchangeable because I don't want to be consumed. And God's law is like himself. It is immutable.

[John Weaver] There's no way in the world that you can deny the Old Testament without denying the New Testament. And when you have 855 direct quotes from the Old Testament and the New Testament, if you rip out all of those quotes denying the Old Testament, you've destroyed the New Testament, not counting all the allusions. Our Lord did not come to set aside the law or the prophets. He came to fulfill. And we're going to see the absolute importance of the Old Testament and the promises of the law. They are there.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You for the totality of Your We do not have two Bibles, we have one Bible. One God, one word, one truth, one salvation. We commit ourselves unto thee and ask you, Father, to establish our thoughts, give us direction, and teach us and build us up in the most holy faith. In thy name we pray, amen. you you so

Promises Of The Law - Part 1

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	-D7SDtFslUg
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Justification, Faith, and Imputed Righteousness: Sola Fide And Justification
Genre	Sermon
Date	2019-03-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 005: Promises Of The Law — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	69

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Promises of the Law

Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 8:56 acknowledges that God kept all His promises given through Moses, establishing that the law contains promises.

1 Kings 8 and verse 56. 1 Kings 8 and verse 56. This is the first message in a series entitled, "The Promises of the Law." The promises of the law. How many there will be, I don't know. I'm sure close to 20 or more. But the promises of the law, 1 Kings 8 and verse 56, Solomon is praying, and in his prayer he says this:

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 8:56

"Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised. There hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant."

The very phrase, "the promises of the law," seems strange to our ears and contradictory to our thinking. When we think of the law, we normally think of precepts and statutes and judgments, but we do not usually think of promises. Yet the truth is there are indeed promises in the law. Solomon certainly mentioned these in 1 Kings 8 verse 56. The word "promise" is really not necessary in order to have a lawful and legitimate promise. Usually when we are making promises we will say something like this, "I promise you." But if Steve and I were going to work together, I could say something like this to Steve, "If you will do this for me, then I will do that for you."

The Nature of a Promise Without the Word 'Promise'

A promise can exist without using the word 'promise' when one party obligates themselves to act based on another's response, as seen in conditional statements.

So, basically, I have promised him that if he responds in one particular way, then I'll respond in another way. So, it is basically a promise, although I've not used the word "promise." In other words, I have obligated myself, and so therefore it is indeed a promise. Now, there is a valid distinction, and I might also add a vital distinction, between the promises of the law and the promise that was given to Abraham, Isaac, and David. The promise of salvation is in opposition to the law for a very simple reason. The law could not save, did not save, and was never intended to save. No one can be justified, no one can be saved by keeping the law. No one can be saved by works.

Distinction Between the Promises of the Law and the Promise of Salvation

The law could never save; justification is by faith alone, not by works of the law, as multiple New Testament passages affirm.

Now I'm going to quote some scriptures, and I want you to listen very carefully, because in the future I'm going to come back to these scriptures, and we're going to be looking at them. But right now I just want to lay upon you and emphasize one thing, that salvation is not by the law and could never be by the law. Romans 3 and verse 20 tells us this:

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:20

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

So very pointedly, there is no one justified by deeds of the law. In Romans 3 and verse 28,

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:20

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

Again, the Word of God is telling us we cannot be justified by the law. Galatians 2 and verse 16,

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:20

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

It cannot get any plainer than this, "for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." The apostle said in Galatians 2 and verse 21,

Scripture Reading — Galatians 2:21

"I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

So righteousness cannot come by the law for salvation. And then Galatians 3 and verse 18, the apostle said, "For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise." Now, I want to tell you something about the law.

The Law's Demands and Human Inability

The law demands personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience, which only Jesus Christ has fulfilled; even hypothetical future perfection cannot atone for past sins.

I've said this many times before. And I'm probably going to say it a number of times before we finish this series. But the law demands three things from every individual. It demands a personal obedience, a perfect obedience, and a perpetual obedience. Obviously, no one can render to the law that which it demands. The only one that has ever rendered to the law that which it demands is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, who is indeed the God-man.

So let me just demonstrate this. If you were somehow, in some way, by a miracle of God's grace, if you were to become absolutely perfect today, you never sinned again the rest of your life, either in thought, word, or deed, you were absolutely, totally perfect. Would that get you into heaven? And the answer is no. Because what about all those sins that you committed before you got perfect? They would have to be dealt with, and they would have to be answered. So obviously the Scripture is making it clear that no one can be justified by the works, or by law keeping. All of that is absolutely impossible.

Biblical Evidence for Promises in the Law

Joshua 23:14 and Hebrews 8:6 confirm that the Old Covenant had promises, though the New Covenant has better promises; all God's promises are fulfilled in Christ.

If you look in 1 Kings 8 and verse 56 again, Solomon says, "Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto His people Israel according to all that He promised." Note now, "There hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant." So obviously there are promises in the law. And if you'll look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Joshua, the book of Joshua. Notice if you would, Joshua 23 and verse 14. Then we'll go to the New Testament. Joshua chapter 23, verse 14. After the book of Deuteronomy, you have the book of Joshua. Joshua, notice, 23 and verse 14. The promises here are referred to as good things. Notice in Joshua 23 and verse 14, Joshua says,

Scripture Reading — Joshua 23:14

"And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth,"

that is, he's dying.

Scripture Reading — Joshua 23:14

"And you know in all your hearts and all your souls that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you. All are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof."

In Joshua 23 the promises here are referred to as the good things. Now if you would turn over in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 8 and look at verse 6. Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 6.

I want you to follow with me because I want you to see what the Scripture says very plainly. Hebrews chapter 8 and note if you would please verse 6. "But now hath he," that is the Lord Jesus Christ, "obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 8:6

" Now if the New Covenant was established upon better promises, then obviously the Old Covenant had promises as well. But the New Covenant just is superior. It has better promises. So obviously then we do indeed have promises in the Old Testament. In fact, the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 1 and verse 20, "

For all the promises of God in him are yea and amen to the glory of God." So it doesn't matter if the promise is in the Old Testament or the promise is in the New Testament. All the promises in Jesus Christ are yea and amen to the glory of God the Father.

Examples of Implied Promises in the Law

Deuteronomy 7:12-15, Deuteronomy 29:9, and Joshua 1:7-8 show conditional promises of blessing and prosperity for obedience, without using the word 'promise.'

I've already made this statement, but I'm going to show it to you from Scripture. You do not have to have the word "promise" in order to have a promise. I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy 7, if you would. Deuteronomy 7, and we're going to begin reading at verse 12, and read through verse 15. Deuteronomy 7, verse 12. And I want you to note, if you would, that there are promises that are clearly stated here without the use of the word "promise." So Deuteronomy 7 verse 12,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 7:12-15

"Wherefore it shall come to pass, if you hearken to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers. And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee. He will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thine kind, and the flocks of thy sheep, and the land which He sware unto thy fathers to

give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people. There shall not be male nor female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee, but will lay them upon all them that hate thee."

Now, obviously, there are promises in these verses, although the word "promise" is not used. So God is saying, if you obey Me and do that which is right, I promise you blessings. And here are some of these blessings that are listed. If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy 29 and verse 9. Deuteronomy 29 and verse 9, God says, "Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them that you may prosper in all that you do.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 29:9

" So here is an implied promise. If we are obedient, then God is going to make us prosper in all that we do. If you would turn right on over now to the book of Joshua chapter 1, you will see this thought exemplified and what God said to Joshua. Joshua 1, beginning there with verse 7, Joshua 1, verse 7, God says to Joshua, "

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee.

Turn not from it to the right hand, or to the left. Why? That thou mayest prosper, whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein. For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then shalt thou have good success." So God says, as long as you obey Me, you're going to be prosperous, and you're going to have good success. Now, you have to understand that there are indeed promises in the law. There are also curses in the law. I'm not going to go over this now, because I'll be going over it in the future. But if you want to understand the sanctions that are mentioned in the Bible, and a sanction can be either good or bad, it can be positive or negative, all you have to do is read Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, because there are blessings if you obey, and there are curses if you disobey.

The Danger of Denying the Old Testament

Some modern teachers advocate 'unhitching' from the Old Testament, but Scripture declares all Scripture is inspired and profitable, and the Old Testament is foundational to the New.

Now what is happening today, and what has happened in time past, is that there are a lot of people that are coming out and they are denying and denigrating the Old Testament. In fact, there was one pastor who said recently, and I'm quoting, he said it publicly in a sermon, that it is time to unhitch from the Old Testament. This same pastor also denounced the Ten Commandments. Now, you know, I can understand an unbeliever denouncing the Ten Commandments and even denouncing the Bible, but not a Christian and not a pastor. I can understand why in Washington and in our state capitals they do not want the Ten Commandments posted, because that makes a hostile work environment for them, you know, so they don't want to be reminded, "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not kill." I understand that. But for a pastor to come up and say, "It's time to unhitch from the Old Testament," and so many have gone so far as they're going to relegate the Old Testament to a theological dump.

And they're basically saying it has no value, it has no application, and it is basically worthless, and they are denying the validity of the Old Testament. Well, let me give you some Scriptures. How about this one, most of you know this one, 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, where the Scripture says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished, unto all good works."

Now the Bible says all Scripture is inspired of God. All Scripture is God-breathed. Now, if the Old Testament is Scripture, then it is inspired. And the only way that you can deny the Old Testament is by denying that it is the inspiration of God. So very clearly, obviously, this passage tells us that we are indeed to honor the Old Testament because it is Scripture. It is God-breathed.

May I remind you that our Lord when He was tempted in Matthew chapter 4, you remember there He was in the wilderness for 40 days, 40 nights tempted of the evil one? And He said, "If thou be the Son of God," and by the way in that temptation and each one of those temptations where it says "if," in the Greek it's a first class condition with the indicative which means "since." Satan was not questioning whether or not he was the Son of God. Literally what he was saying is, "Since you are the Son of God, command these stones that they may be turned into bread." And our Lord responded, "It is written, man shall live by every word of God that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 4:4

" So if the Old Testament is the Word of God, it proceeds from the mouth of God. And someone who would deny, and denigrate, and denounce the Old Testament has to deny, and denigrate, and denounce God Himself, because God breathed these Scriptures. They are indeed the inspired Word of God. May I also remind you of this, in Romans 15 and verse 4.

The Apostle Paul said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 15:4

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime,"

he's talking about the Old Testament.

Scripture Reading — Romans 15:4

"Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning. Now the interesting thing is this, both of these passages, Romans 15 and verse 4, 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17 have reference to the Old Testament. How do we know that? Because when Paul wrote in Romans 15 and verse 4, and in 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, the New Testament had not been completed. He was talking primarily of the Old Testament. Of course it would apply to whatever was written in the New Testament at that particular time. But primarily it had reference to the Old Testament. And may I also remind you that in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, the Apostle Paul took what happened to Israel in the Old Testament and applied it to the Corinthian church.

And twice in that passage he says, "These are our examples." So he brought what happened to Israel out of the Old Testament and made an application to the Corinthian church in the New Testament. Now I want you to turn in your Bibles if you would to Matthew chapter 5, and let's begin reading there with verse 17. I want you to see what our Lord says. Matthew chapter 5 and verse 17. Watch carefully. Matthew 5 verse 17. Our Lord says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."

Christ Came to Fulfill, Not Destroy, the Law

In Matthew 5:17-19, Jesus explicitly states He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them, emphasizing the enduring validity of even the smallest details.

Now let me just stop there for a moment. "Think not." The impact of these words are the same as when the Apostle Paul said, "God forbid." Literally when our Lord says, "Think not," here's what He's saying: "Don't even let this thought enter into your mind. Perish the thought." So He says, "Think not, don't even begin to let this thought enter into your mind, that I'm come to destroy the law or the prophets. I'm not come to destroy but to fulfill." And the word "destroy" there literally means to abrogate, to nullify, to set aside, to invalidate. God said, "I didn't come to do that." He said, "I came to fulfill." "Pleroo" means to put into full force as continuous. So He says, "Don't even let this enter into your mind." Verse 18, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle, shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Now, the interesting thing is, our Lord said in verse 17, and I'll come back to this passage, but He says,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:17-19

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill."

The phrase, "the law and the prophets," refer to the totality of the Old Testament. Let me show you how this is used. In Matthew chapter 22, if you want to turn right over there, Matthew chapter 22, our Lord has been asked, "What is the greatest of the commandments?"

The Old Testament as 'the Law and the Prophets'

The phrase 'the Law and the Prophets' refers to the entire Old Testament, as demonstrated in Matthew 22:40, John 1:45, Acts 13:15, and other passages.

He does not cite one of the ten. Look if you would please, verse 36, Matthew 22,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:36-40

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?"

Jesus said unto him,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:36-40

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment, and the second is likened to it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

Now watch verse 40,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:36-40

"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

All the law and the prophets. Now, when we think of our divisions in the Old Testament, we think about, we say, there's the law, there's the historical books, there's the poetical books, there's the major prophets, there's the minor prophets. But in Bible times they just simply referred to the Old Testament as the Law and the Prophets. Why? Because the first five books were written by Moses, which is the Law. All the other books are prophetical books, even though they are historical. Yes, there's prophecy in the historical books. The poetical books, yes, there's prophecy there.

Look at Psalm 22, Psalm 23, Psalm 24. Look at, you know, you have prophecy there. So it was just the Old Testament that was referred to as the Law and the Prophets. Now, turn right on over, if you would please, to the book of John, chapter 1, and look, if you would please, at verse 45. John 1, verse 45, here's what Philip says. John 1, verse 45,

Scripture Reading — John 1:45

"Philip findeth Nathanael, and said unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph."

Note he called them the law and the prophets. If you would turn right over to Acts chapter 13 and look at verse 15. Acts 13 verse 15. Again, the Bible says this, and we're referring to the Old Testament.

Scripture Reading — John 1:45

"After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, You men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on."

So, what indeed do the Law and the Prophets refer to? The totality of the Old Testament. If you look in Acts chapter 24 and verse 14, Acts 24, and verse 14. Here it is again. The Apostle Paul says,

Scripture Reading — John 1:45

"But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets."

Scripture Reading — Acts 24:14

One last passage here, look in Acts 28 and verse 23. Acts 28 and verse 23, because Paul is now in his own hired house and he's teaching. And in Acts 28 and verse 23, the Bible says, "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning until evening." Wow! Now our Lord said, "Do not even begin to think, don't even let it enter into your mind that I've come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill." So if our Lord did not come to set them aside, obviously it would be unwise for you and I to try to set them aside. It would be unwise for you and I to try to unhitch from the Old Testament, or to denounce the Old Testament in any way whatsoever.

Continuity Between the Testaments

The New Testament is concealed in the Old, and the Old is revealed in the New; there are 855 direct Old Testament quotes in the New Testament, showing inseparable continuity.

What we should do today is develop their implications and applications in our present day setting. Now, there are very serious problems in denying the Old Testament and its application for today. You've heard me say this in times past. I'm going to say it again. Listen carefully. That the New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed. And the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed. In other words, there is a continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament. And if you denigrate and denounce and deny the Old Testament, then by the same token you are denigrating, denouncing, and denying the New Testament. Did you know, according to the Blue Letter Bible, that there are 855 quotes from the Old Testament in the New Testament.

Now stop and think about it. 855 direct quotes from the Old Testament in the New Testament. That does not count the 493 allusions that are in the New Testament to the Old Testament, nor does it count the 138 possible allusions back to the Old Testament. So the New Testament has its foundation in the Old Testament. And you try to destroy the Old Testament at the same time you're going to destroy the New Testament as well. And did you know, by the way, the very first verse in the New Testament teaches the continuity of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Because the very first verse in the New Testament is Matthew 1 and verse 1, which says very clearly, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." And you have to know who David was and Abraham in order to know who Jesus Christ really was. And the Canon Bible website says that Jesus Christ Himself quoted from 24 different Old Testament books.

Obviously, when He said, "I came not to destroy the law or the prophets, but I came to fulfill," He did not set them aside. And when you understand Psalm 119 and verse 89, when the Bible says, "Forever, O Lord, is thy word settled in the heavens," obviously it's not going to be set aside either. So, let me point something else out that's very emphatic. There's a lot today being said against just the book of Genesis. In fact, there's a lot being said against the first 11 chapters of Genesis. Those first 11 chapters are being denied left and right by evolutionists, by men who do not believe the doctrine of creation. Why is there such an attack on the first 11 chapters of Genesis? And the answer is because every major doctrine of the Bible is found in those first 11 chapters in seed form. And if you can destroy those first 11 chapters then you can destroy the entire Bible. So obviously if you are going to try to deny the Old Testament then you are also going to deny the New Testament.

Grace Does Not Nullify the Law

Believers are not under the law for justification but are under grace; however, grace does not abolish the law as a moral guide, and the law directs holy living.

If you do away with the Old Testament, how in the world will you ever learn anything about the holiness of God, the justice of God, or the mercy of God? But even a greater question would be this. How would you even know who Jesus Christ is? How would you know about His so great salvation? How could you even prove who He was without the Old Testament? How could you even see prophecy or understand prophecy being fulfilled if you deny the Old Testament? You see, the truth of the matter is this. Grace does not destroy the law of God. We often hear Christian people say, "Well, we're not under the law, we're under grace."

And they have no idea what they're saying. It is true that we are not under the law as a standard for justification. The law of God is not our standard for salvation. It is true that we are under the standard of grace. I'm going to point this out in just a few minutes. It's true we are under the standard of grace, but grace does not nullify the law of God. It does not negate it. The Old Testament is full of law, but it's also full of grace. Do you remember? In Genesis 6 and verse 8, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Anybody that's ever been saved has been saved by grace. If you think that people in the Old Testament were saved by law keeping, you're mistaken. No one has ever been saved by keeping the law. Anyone that's ever been saved has been saved by grace. Even Moses, the lawgiver, in Exodus 33 and verse 13 prayed and said, "Now therefore I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, and that I may find grace in thy sight, and consider that this nation is thy people." He's praying for grace. Even Gideon in Judges 6 and verse 17 said, "If I have now found grace in thy sight, show me a sign that thou talkest with me." So simply because we are justified by grace and not by works does not mean that we can live any way that we choose.

That does not mean that we can live any way that we please. The apostle Paul dealt with this in Romans 6 and verse 1 and 2 when he said this, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid." That is, perish the thought, don't even think that. "How shall we who are dead to sin live any longer therein?" So when someone says, "Well, I'm saved by grace, I can do as I please." No. Grace enables us to be obedient. It is the law that gives us direction as to how to live and how to please God. It is the law that teaches us that we're dead to sin because of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Four Explanations for Negative New Testament Passages About the Law

Negative statements about the law in the New Testament refer to: (1) the law as a means of justification, (2) the death-dealing nature of sin in relation to the law, (3) the curse of the law, or (4) ceremonial ordinances fulfilled in Christ.

Now, when you read through the New Testament, you're going to find negative passages concerning the law of God. If you will take the time to look at the context, you will find that there are four explanations that will explain those negative passages in the context, and usually the context is going to be one of these four explanations. The first one is very simple. There are those passages that deny or denounce the Law of God as a means of justification. We're not saved by works. We're not saved by keeping the Law. No one has ever been saved by keeping the Law, neither can we be saved in that way. The Bible says in Galatians 2 and verse 16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law, for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified." That's a negative passage. It's denouncing the law as the means or the standard of justification. Most Christians will read Romans 6 and verse 14, and they'll say, "Aha, here's a verse that proves absolutely that the law has nothing to do with us." Because Romans 6:14 says this, "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you're not under the law, but under grace." "Aha, I'm not under the law, I'm under grace."

Well, what about the context? The Apostle Paul starts his argument for justification by faith alone in Romans 3 and verse 31, and it runs all the way through Romans chapter 8. And if you would read the context of Romans 6 and 7, you'll find what the Apostle is saying there. We are not under the standard of the law for justification, but we are under the standard of grace. So Romans 6:14 is not saying that the law has been done away with, it's been invalidated, it's been negated, it's been abrogated, it's been set aside. No. It's just saying the law is not our standard. The opposite of that you will find in Galatians 5 and verse 4. Listen to this one. The Apostle said, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law, you're fallen from grace." Now, when the Apostle Paul says that someone is fallen from grace, it does not mean that they were saved and they lost their salvation. Listen to what he said, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law, you're fallen from grace."

He is saying that if you seek to be justified by the law, you're seeking to be justified by a different standard. And Christ is absolutely no effect unto you, and you've fallen, that is, you've left the standard of grace. So, you can either be justified by grace or seek to be justified by the law, and if you're seeking to be justified by the law, you're seeking to be justified by works and not by grace. So when the Apostle Paul says we're not under the law, but we're under grace, he's not saying the law's been done away with. He's just simply saying it's not our standard for justification. How about this one in Romans 10 and verse 4? The Bible says, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. Now that doesn't say that Christ ended the law. It says that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Why is He the end of the law for righteousness? Because He obeyed the law personally, perfectly, and perpetually, and He's the only one that worked out a perfect righteousness. I don't need to seek righteousness by my works because Christ worked it out perfectly. It's not saying that He's done away with or destroyed the law. Righteousness is only by Jesus Christ, because He's the only one that gave to the law that which it demands.

So, there are negative passages that deny and denounce the law as a means of justification. Secondly, there are negative passages that refer to the death-dealing nature of sin in relation to the law. Well, the apostle said in Romans 7 and verse 10, "And the commandment which was ordained to life I found to be death." What? The commandment which was ordained to life I found to be death. Really, Paul? How could you say that? Well, you remember Paul also said, "I was alive once without the law, but when the law came, sin revived and I died." In other words, I thought I was all right. Until I saw the spiritual application of God's law, then sin revived and I died. That which I thought was life turned out to be death to me. Why? Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." And what did it say in 1 John 3 and verse 4? "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the law, for sin is the transgression of the law." So you have these passages then that refer to the death-dealing nature of sin in relationship to the Law. Okay? Now, there are those passages that deny and denounce the Law as a means of justification. There are those passages that refer to the death-dealing nature of sin in relationship to the Law. Then thirdly, there are those passages that deal with the curse of the Law.

Let me show you. If you will turn in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Galatians 3. Galatians 3. Notice if you would please, verse 10. Galatians 3, verse 10. "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." So God says, if you do not render to the law that personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience, you're under its curse. There are these passages that refer to the curse of the law. And the curse of the law comes upon those who sin. Well, if you would skip down to chapter 3, and look, if you would please, at verse 13.

Galatians 3, verse 13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree." So, the law that cursed us, our Lord has redeemed us from that curse by being the perfect sacrifice and by giving a perfect obedience. Now, consequently, we are no longer under the curse. Note, if you would, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us." So here is a passage then that talks about the Law and the curse that people are under who have not been redeemed by the work and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ did not redeem us from the Law. He redeemed us from the curse of the Law. The Law is still in effect. It is still in existence. It is still applicable.

Now, I'm going to point this out in the future, but I will tell you right now, there is not even any sanctification without the Law, because the Law is our direction, and we have to obey God's Word, and as the Holy Spirit works in us and enables us to obey, then we are indeed sanctified. But here's a passage that deals with the curses. And anytime you begin to look at a context, you can see that the negative passages can be explained either by denying or denouncing it as a means of justification, the death-dealing nature of sin in relationship to the Law, or those passages referred to the curse of the Law. There's a fourth one. If you would turn right over to the book of Ephesians chapter 2, Ephesians chapter 2, look if you would, beginning there with verse 13, and we'll read through verse 17.

And that is, those passages that refer to the ceremonial ordinances, or the rituals that were in the Old Testament. Notice if you would, Ephesians chapter 2, verse 13. He says, "But now in Christ Jesus, you who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, that wall that separated, having abolished in his flesh the enmity," now watch carefully, "even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace, and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." Note, if you would, verse 15, "having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments," He doesn't stop there. He's not talking about the Ten Commandments. He says, "even the law of commandments contained in ordinances." So we're talking about the ceremonies and the rituals of the tabernacle and of the temple.

Jesus Christ has fulfilled all of the pictures, all of the types, all the emblems, He is reality. We no longer have the picture because we have the reality. That's why the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 5 and verse 7, "For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." I said to one brother this morning who was asking me about this passage. His wife was sitting by him, and so I asked him, I said, "Had you rather kiss your wife or kiss a picture of your wife?" Stop and think about this. Whatever you have of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament is a picture. What we have in the New Testament is the reality. Okay? He took away all of these rituals. When I say He took them away, let me explain it. He fulfilled them. In reality, none of God's law has been set aside. It has been fulfilled by all of these rituals, and all of these ceremonies, and all of these pictures, and all these types. So let me explain it like this. Do you remember in the Old Testament, if you wanted to worship God, you had to bring a sacrifice.

You had to come to the priest. You had to come to the altar. You had to come to the temple. And if you didn't do those things, you didn't worship God. Well, the same is true in the New Testament. If you don't do those things, you don't worship God. But we have to understand Jesus Christ, according to Hebrews 13 and verse 10, is our altar. Jesus Christ is our sacrifice. Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest. Jesus Christ is our temple. And so we come to God the Father, bringing a sacrifice, Jesus Christ. We come to Him as our Great High Priest. We come to Him and He brings us to God the Father.

Everything that the law required in those ceremonies, He is in reality. So He's fulfilled that very clearly. Now, any time you find a negative passage in the New Testament concerning the law, if you will study the context, you will find that one of these four explanations will explain the negative context or the negative passage concerning the law. Okay?

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Enduring Validity of the Old Testament Law

Summary: The law contains promises and remains valid for believers; it is holy, just, and good, and Christ did not come to destroy it but to fulfill it.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Kings 8:56, Matthew 5:17-19, and Romans 7:12 to argue that the law is not abolished and that even the smallest details remain until all is fulfilled.

Justification by Faith, Not by Law

Summary: Salvation has always been by grace through faith, not by works of the law; the law was never intended as a means of justification.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Romans 3:20, 28; Galatians 2:16, 21; and 3:18 to show that no flesh is justified by the law, and that righteousness comes only through Christ.

The Unity and Continuity of Scripture

Summary: The Old and New Testaments are inseparable; denying the Old Testament undermines the New, as the New is built upon the Old with hundreds of quotations and allusions.

Evidence: Weaver points to 855 direct quotes, 493 allusions, and the fact that every major doctrine is found in seed form in Genesis 1-11, emphasizing that the Bible is one unified revelation.

The Law as a Guide for Holy Living

Summary: While believers are not under the law for justification, the law provides direction for how to live and please God; grace enables obedience, not lawlessness.

Evidence: Weaver explains that Romans 6:14 means we are not under the law as a standard for justification, but the law still teaches us how to live, and grace does not permit sin.

Christ's Fulfillment of the Law

Summary: Jesus Christ perfectly obeyed the law and fulfilled its ceremonial aspects, becoming the reality behind the Old Testament types and shadows.

Evidence: Weaver discusses how Christ is our Passover, altar, sacrifice, high priest, and temple, fulfilling the ceremonial law so that we now have the reality, not just the picture.

Key Arguments

The law contains promises, not just commands.

Summary: Solomon's reference to God's promises given through Moses (1 Kings 8:56) and the conditional blessings in Deuteronomy demonstrate that the law includes promises.

Evidence: Weaver reads 1 Kings 8:56 and Deuteronomy 7:12-15, showing that God promised blessings for obedience, even without using the word 'promise.'

The law was never a means of salvation.

Summary: Multiple New Testament passages explicitly state that no one is justified by works of the law; salvation is by faith in Christ alone.

Evidence: Weaver cites Romans 3:20, 28; Galatians 2:16, 21; and 3:18 to prove that justification is by faith, not law-keeping.

Christ did not abolish the law but fulfilled it.

Summary: Jesus' statement in Matthew 5:17-19, along with the permanence of the jot and tittle, shows that the law remains in force until heaven and earth pass away.

Evidence: Weaver exegetes Matthew 5:17-19, explaining that 'destroy' means to abrogate, and 'fulfill' means to put into full force; he illustrates the jot and tittle from Psalm 119.

Denying the Old Testament destroys the foundation of the New Testament.

Summary: The New Testament is built upon the Old, with 855 direct quotes; rejecting the Old Testament logically leads to rejecting the New Testament and its teachings about Christ.

Evidence: Weaver cites the number of Old Testament quotations in the New, and argues that doctrines like creation, sin, and redemption originate in Genesis 1-11.

Grace does not nullify the moral law.

Summary: Being under grace means we are not under the law for justification, but the law remains as a standard for holy living; grace empowers obedience, not license.

Evidence: Weaver explains Romans 6:14 in context, showing that Paul is contrasting standards of justification, not abolishing the law; he also references Romans 6:1-2.

Negative New Testament passages about the law have specific contexts.

Summary: Passages that seem to denounce the law actually refer to (1) justification, (2) sin's death-dealing nature, (3) the curse, or (4) ceremonial ordinances, not the moral law itself.

Evidence: Weaver walks through examples: Galatians 2:16 (justification), Romans 7:10 (sin and death), Galatians 3:10,13 (curse), and Ephesians 2:15 (ceremonial law).

Scripture References

1 Kings 8:56

Context: Solomon's prayer acknowledging that God kept all His promises given through Moses, introducing the concept of promises in the law.

Romans 3:20

Context: Cited to prove that no flesh is justified by deeds of the law; the law brings knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:28

Context: Used to show that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Galatians 2:16

Context: Quoted to emphasize that justification is by faith in Christ, not by works of the law.

Galatians 2:21

Context: If righteousness came by the law, Christ died in vain; used to argue against law-based justification.

Galatians 3:18

Context: The inheritance is not by law but by promise, given to Abraham; contrasts law and promise.

Joshua 23:14

Context: Joshua's testimony that not one good thing God promised had failed; referred to as promises in the law.

Hebrews 8:6

Context: Christ is mediator of a better covenant with better promises, implying the old covenant had promises.

2 Corinthians 1:20

Context: All promises of God are yes and amen in Christ, affirming the validity of Old Testament promises.

Deuteronomy 7:12-15

Context: Conditional blessings for obedience, demonstrating implied promises without the word 'promise.'

Deuteronomy 29:9

Context: Keep the covenant to prosper; another implied promise of blessing for obedience.

Joshua 1:7-8

Context: God promises prosperity and success to Joshua if he meditates on and obeys the law.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Context: All Scripture is inspired and profitable; used to argue that the Old Testament is Scripture and thus authoritative.

Matthew 4:4

Context: Jesus quoted Deuteronomy, affirming that man lives by every word from God, including the Old Testament.

Romans 15:4

Context: Whatever was written in former days (Old Testament) was written for our instruction and hope.

Matthew 5:17-19

Context: Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or Prophets but to fulfill; not a jot or tittle will pass until all is accomplished.

Matthew 22:36-40

Context: The greatest commandments summarize the Law and the Prophets, showing the phrase refers to the whole Old Testament.

John 1:45

Context: Philip refers to Moses in the Law and the Prophets writing about Jesus, equating the phrase with the Old Testament.

Acts 13:15

Context: The reading of the Law and the Prophets in the synagogue refers to the Old Testament Scriptures.

Acts 24:14

Context: Paul believes everything written in the Law and the Prophets, again referring to the entire Old Testament.

Historical References

Solomon's prayer at the temple dedication

Context: Weaver references 1 Kings 8:56 where Solomon blesses God for fulfilling promises made through Moses.

Modern pastor advocating 'unhitching' from the Old Testament

Context: Weaver mentions a contemporary pastor who publicly said it is time to unhitch from the Old Testament and denounced the Ten Commandments.

Ten Commandments controversies in government buildings

Context: Weaver notes that secular authorities often oppose posting the Ten Commandments because it creates a hostile work environment.

Jesus' temptation in the wilderness

Context: Weaver recounts Matthew 4 where Jesus quoted Deuteronomy to resist Satan, affirming the Old Testament's authority.

Paul's teaching in his hired house in Rome

Context: Acts 28:23 describes Paul teaching from the Law of Moses and the Prophets from morning till evening.

Blue Letter Bible and Canon Bible website statistics

Context: Weaver cites these sources for the number of Old Testament quotations (855) and allusions in the New Testament.

Attack on the first 11 chapters of Genesis

Context: Weaver notes that evolutionists and others deny Genesis 1-11 because every major doctrine is found there in seed form.

Old Testament saints saved by grace

Context: Weaver mentions Noah (Genesis 6:8), Moses (Exodus 33:13), and Gideon (Judges 6:17) as examples of people who found grace.

Important Quotes

Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised. There hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

Significance: This is the foundational text for the entire series, showing that the law contains promises given through Moses.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Significance: Jesus' own words affirming the enduring validity of the Old Testament; central to Weaver's argument against antinomianism.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle, shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.

Significance: Emphasizes the permanence of the law down to the smallest details, countering claims that it has been abolished.

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good.

Significance: Paul's declaration in Romans 7:12 that the law reflects God's character, so it cannot be evil or obsolete.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.

Significance: Clarifies that Christ redeemed us from the law's curse, not from the law itself, preserving the law's moral authority.

Discussion Questions

Why does the phrase 'promises of the law' seem contradictory to many Christians, and how does 1 Kings 8:56 challenge that perception?

Context: Weaver introduces the series by noting that we usually associate the law with commands, not promises, but Solomon's prayer shows otherwise.

How would you explain the difference between the law as a means of justification and the law as a guide for Christian living?

Context: Weaver repeatedly emphasizes that the law cannot save, but it remains holy and useful for directing our obedience.

What does Jesus mean when He says He came to 'fulfill' the Law and the Prophets, and how does that affect our view of the Old Testament?

Context: Weaver exegetes Matthew 5:17, explaining that 'fulfill' means to put into full force, not to abolish.

Why is it dangerous to 'unhitch' from the Old Testament, according to Weaver? What are the practical consequences?

Context: Weaver warns that denying the Old Testament undermines the New Testament and leads to a loss of foundational doctrines.

How do the four explanations for negative New Testament passages about the law help you reconcile apparent contradictions?

Context: Weaver provides a hermeneutical framework for understanding verses that seem to denounce the law.

In what ways does the ceremonial law point to Christ, and how does that affect our worship today?

Context: Weaver explains that Christ is our altar, sacrifice, high priest, and temple, fulfilling the Old Testament rituals.

How does the immutability of God relate to the permanence of His law?

Context: Weaver argues that if God does not change, and the law reflects His character, then the moral law cannot be set aside.

What role does the law play in sanctification, and how does grace enable obedience?

Context: Weaver states that the law provides direction for holy living, and the Holy Spirit empowers believers to obey it.

Applications

Value the whole Bible as God's inspired Word.

Summary: Recognize that the Old Testament is not obsolete but is profitable for teaching and training in righteousness, and should be studied and applied.

Evidence: Weaver cites 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and Romans 15:4 to show that all Scripture, including the Old Testament, is for our learning and hope.

Reject antinomianism and the idea that grace permits lawlessness.

Summary: Understand that being under grace does not mean we can ignore God's moral commands; grace empowers us to obey the law as a rule of life.

Evidence: Weaver explains Romans 6:1-2 and 6:14, emphasizing that grace does not give license to sin but enables obedience.

Interpret negative New Testament passages about the law in context.

Summary: When encountering verses that seem to denigrate the law, determine whether they refer to justification, sin's curse, or ceremonial ordinances, not the moral law itself.

Evidence: Weaver provides four contextual explanations and walks through examples like Galatians 3:10,13 and Ephesians 2:15.

See Christ as the fulfillment of the law's demands and ceremonies.

Summary: Rest in Christ's perfect obedience and sacrifice, and worship God through Him as our altar, priest, and temple, rather than through Old Testament rituals.

Evidence: Weaver points to 1 Corinthians 5:7 and Hebrews 13:10, showing that Christ is the reality behind the shadows.

Defend the unity and authority of Scripture against modern attacks.

Summary: Be prepared to answer those who dismiss the Old Testament by showing its integral connection to the New Testament and its foundational role in Christian doctrine.

Evidence: Weaver notes the 855 direct quotes and the attack on Genesis 1-11, urging believers to uphold the whole counsel of God.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T16:37:45Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T07:37:53Z

Clean Transcript

Promises Of The Law - Part 1

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

1 Kings 8 and verse 56. 1 Kings 8 and verse 56. This is the first message in a series entitled, "The Promises of the Law."
#1 | 0:00 to 0:12 | cleaned
The promises of the law. How many there will be, I don't know. I'm sure close to 20 or more. But the promises of the law, 1 Kings 8 and verse 56, Solomon is praying, and in his prayer he says this: "Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised. There hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant." The very phrase, "the promises of the law," seems strange to our ears and contradictory to our thinking. When we think of the law, we normally think of precepts and statutes and judgments, but we do not usually think of promises. Yet the truth is there are indeed promises in the law. Solomon certainly mentioned these in 1 Kings 8 verse 56. The word "promise" is really not necessary in order to have a lawful and legitimate promise. Usually when we are making promises we will say something like this, "I promise you." But if Steve and I were going to work together, I could say something like this to Steve, "If you will do this for me, then I will do that for you."
#2 | 0:30 to 1:59 | cleaned
So, basically, I have promised him that if he responds in one particular way, then I'll respond in another way. So, it is basically a promise, although I've not used the word "promise." In other words, I have obligated myself, and so therefore it is indeed a promise.
#3 | 2:00 to 2:18 | cleaned
Now, there is a valid distinction, and I might also add a vital distinction, between the promises of the law and the promise that was given to Abraham, Isaac, and David. The promise of salvation is in opposition to the law for a very simple reason. The law could not save, did not save, and was never intended to save. No one can be justified, no one can be saved by keeping the law. No one can be saved by works.
#4 | 2:19 to 2:51 | cleaned
Now I'm going to quote some scriptures, and I want you to listen very carefully, because in the future I'm going to come back to these scriptures, and we're going to be looking at them. But right now I just want to lay upon you and emphasize one thing, that salvation is not by the law and could never be by the law. Romans 3 and verse 20 tells us this: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." So very pointedly, there is no one justified by deeds of the law. In Romans 3 and verse 28, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Again, the Word of God is telling us we cannot be justified by the law. Galatians 2 and verse 16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
#5 | 2:51 to 4:01 | cleaned
It cannot get any plainer than this, "for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." The apostle said in Galatians 2 and verse 21, "I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." So righteousness cannot come by the law for salvation. And then Galatians 3 and verse 18, the apostle said, "For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise." Now, I want to tell you something about the law.
#6 | 4:02 to 4:40 | cleaned
I've said this many times before. And I'm probably going to say it a number of times before we finish this series. But the law demands three things from every individual. It demands a personal obedience, a perfect obedience, and a perpetual obedience. Obviously, no one can render to the law that which it demands. The only one that has ever rendered to the law that which it demands is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, who is indeed the God-man.
#7 | 4:42 to 5:21 | cleaned
So let me just demonstrate this. If you were somehow, in some way, by a miracle of God's grace, if you were to become absolutely perfect today, you never sinned again the rest of your life, either in thought, word, or deed, you were absolutely, totally perfect. Would that get you into heaven? And the answer is no. Because what about all those sins that you committed before you got perfect?
#8 | 5:21 to 5:53 | cleaned
They would have to be dealt with, and they would have to be answered. So obviously the Scripture is making it clear that no one can be justified by the works, or by law keeping. All of that is absolutely impossible.
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Now when I speak concerning the promises of the Law, I'm not necessarily speaking about salvation. Salvation did not come by the Law. Salvation came by faith in Jesus Christ. However, I'm going to point out in the future that there could not be a real genuine salvation without the Law. Although salvation did not come by the Law, it came by the Lord Jesus Christ, who rendered a perfect obedience to the Law, and was also the perfect sacrifice.
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If you look in 1 Kings 8 and verse 56 again, Solomon says, "Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto His people Israel according to all that He promised." Note now, "There hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant." So obviously there are promises in the law. And if you'll look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Joshua, the book of Joshua. Notice if you would, Joshua 23 and verse 14.
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Then we'll go to the New Testament. Joshua chapter 23, verse 14. After the book of Deuteronomy, you have the book of Joshua. Joshua, notice, 23 and verse 14. The promises here are referred to as good things. Notice in Joshua 23 and verse 14, Joshua says, "And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth," that is, he's dying. "And you know in all your hearts and all your souls that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you. All are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof." In Joshua 23 the promises here are referred to as the good things. Now if you would turn over in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 8 and look at verse 6. Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 6.
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I want you to follow with me because I want you to see what the Scripture says very plainly. Hebrews chapter 8 and note if you would please verse 6. "But now hath he," that is the Lord Jesus Christ, "obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." Now if the New Covenant was established upon better promises, then obviously the Old Covenant had promises as well. But the New Covenant just is superior. It has better promises. So obviously then we do indeed have promises in the Old Testament. In fact, the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 1 and verse 20, "For all the promises of God in him are yea and amen to the glory of God." So it doesn't matter if the promise is in the Old Testament or the promise is in the New Testament. All the promises in Jesus Christ are yea and amen to the glory of God the Father.
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I've already made this statement, but I'm going to show it to you from Scripture. You do not have to have the word "promise" in order to have a promise. I want you to turn back in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy 7, if you would. Deuteronomy 7, and we're going to begin reading at verse 12, and read through verse 15. Deuteronomy 7, verse 12. And I want you to note, if you would, that there are promises that are clearly stated here without the use of the word "promise." So Deuteronomy 7 verse 12, "Wherefore it shall come to pass, if you hearken to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers. And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee. He will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thine kind, and the flocks of thy sheep, and the land which He sware unto thy fathers to
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give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people. There shall not be male nor female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee, but will lay them upon all them that hate thee."
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Now, obviously, there are promises in these verses, although the word "promise" is not used. So God is saying, if you obey Me and do that which is right, I promise you blessings. And here are some of these blessings that are listed. If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy 29 and verse 9. Deuteronomy 29 and verse 9, God says, "Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them that you may prosper in all that you do." So here is an implied promise. If we are obedient, then God is going to make us prosper in all that we do. If you would turn right on over now to the book of Joshua chapter 1, you will see this thought exemplified and what God said to Joshua. Joshua 1, beginning there with verse 7, Joshua 1, verse 7, God says to Joshua, "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee.
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Turn not from it to the right hand, or to the left. Why? That thou mayest prosper, whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein. For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then shalt thou have good success." So God says, as long as you obey Me, you're going to be prosperous, and you're going to have good success. Now, you have to understand that there are indeed promises in the law. There are also curses in the law. I'm not going to go over this now, because I'll be going over it in the future. But if you want to understand the sanctions that are mentioned in the Bible, and a sanction can be either good or bad, it can be positive or negative, all you have to do is read Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, because there are blessings if you obey, and there are curses if you disobey.
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Now what is happening today, and what has happened in time past, is that there are a lot of people that are coming out and they are denying and denigrating the Old Testament. In fact, there was one pastor who said recently, and I'm quoting, he said it publicly in a sermon, that it is time to unhitch from the Old Testament. This same pastor also denounced the Ten Commandments. Now, you know, I can understand an unbeliever denouncing the Ten Commandments and even denouncing the Bible, but not a Christian and not a pastor. I can understand why in Washington and in our state capitals they do not want the Ten Commandments posted, because that makes a hostile work environment for them, you know, so they don't want to be reminded, "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not kill." I understand that. But for a pastor to come up and say, "It's time to unhitch from the Old Testament," and so many have gone so far as they're going to relegate the Old Testament to a theological dump.
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And they're basically saying it has no value, it has no application, and it is basically worthless, and they are denying the validity of the Old Testament. Well, let me give you some Scriptures. How about this one, most of you know this one, 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, where the Scripture says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may
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be perfect, thoroughly furnished, unto all good works." Now the Bible says all Scripture is inspired of God. All Scripture is God-breathed. Now, if the Old Testament is Scripture, then it is inspired. And the only way that you can deny the Old Testament is by denying that it is the inspiration of God. So very clearly, obviously, this passage tells us that we are indeed to honor the Old Testament because it is Scripture. It is God-breathed.
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May I remind you that our Lord when He was tempted in Matthew chapter 4, you remember there He was in the wilderness for 40 days, 40 nights tempted of the evil one? And He said, "If thou be the Son of God," and by the way in that temptation and each one of those temptations where it says "if," in the Greek it's a first class condition with the indicative which means "since." Satan was not questioning whether or not he was the Son of God. Literally what he was saying is, "Since you are the Son of God, command these stones that they may be turned into bread." And our Lord responded, "It is written, man shall live by every word of God that proceedeth out of his mouth." So if the Old Testament is the Word of God, it proceeds from the mouth of God. And someone who would deny, and denigrate, and denounce the Old Testament has to deny, and denigrate, and denounce God Himself, because God breathed these Scriptures. They are indeed the inspired Word of God. May I also remind you of this, in Romans 15 and verse 4.
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The Apostle Paul said, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime," he's talking about the Old Testament. "Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning. Now the interesting thing is this, both of these passages, Romans 15 and verse 4, 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17 have reference to the Old Testament.
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How do we know that? Because when Paul wrote in Romans 15 and verse 4, and in 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, the New Testament had not been completed. He was talking primarily of the Old Testament. Of course it would apply to whatever was written in the New Testament at that particular time. But primarily it had reference to the Old Testament. And may I also remind you that in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, the Apostle Paul took what happened to Israel in the Old Testament and applied it to the Corinthian church.
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And twice in that passage he says, "These are our examples." So he brought what happened to Israel out of the Old Testament and made an application to the Corinthian church in the New Testament.
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Now I want you to turn in your Bibles if you would to Matthew chapter 5, and let's begin reading there with verse 17. I want you to see what our Lord says. Matthew chapter 5 and verse 17. Watch carefully. Matthew 5 verse 17. Our Lord says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."
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Now let me just stop there for a moment. "Think not." The impact of these words are the same as when the Apostle Paul said, "God forbid." Literally when our Lord says, "Think not," here's what He's saying: "Don't even let this thought enter into your mind. Perish the thought." So He says, "Think not, don't even begin to let this thought enter into your mind, that I'm come to destroy the law or the prophets. I'm not come to destroy but to fulfill." And the word "destroy" there literally means to abrogate, to nullify, to set aside, to invalidate. God said, "I didn't come to do that." He said, "I came to fulfill." "Pleroo" means to put into full force as continuous. So He says, "Don't even let this enter into your mind."
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Verse 18, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle, shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
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Now, the interesting thing is, our Lord said in verse 17, and I'll come back to this passage, but He says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill." The phrase, "the law and the prophets," refer to the totality of the Old Testament. Let me show you how this is used. In Matthew chapter 22, if you want to turn right over there, Matthew chapter 22, our Lord has been asked, "What is the greatest of the commandments?"
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He does not cite one of the ten. Look if you would please, verse 36, Matthew 22, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment, and the second is likened to it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Now watch verse 40, "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." All the law and the prophets.
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Now, when we think of our divisions in the Old Testament, we think about, we say, there's the law, there's the historical books, there's the poetical books, there's the major prophets, there's the minor prophets. But in Bible times they just simply referred to the Old Testament as the Law and the Prophets. Why? Because the first five books were written by Moses, which is the Law. All the other books are prophetical books, even though they are historical. Yes, there's prophecy in the historical books. The poetical books, yes, there's prophecy there.
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Look at Psalm 22, Psalm 23, Psalm 24. Look at, you know, you have prophecy there. So it was just the Old Testament that was referred to as the Law and the Prophets.
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Now, turn right on over, if you would please, to the book of John, chapter 1, and look, if you would please, at verse 45. John 1, verse 45, here's what Philip says. John 1, verse 45, "Philip findeth Nathanael, and said unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph." Note he called them the law and the prophets. If you would turn right over to Acts chapter 13 and look at verse 15. Acts 13 verse 15. Again, the Bible says this, and we're referring to the Old Testament. "After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, You men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on." So, what indeed do the Law and the Prophets refer to? The totality of the Old Testament. If you look in Acts chapter 24 and verse 14, Acts 24, and verse 14. Here it is again. The Apostle Paul says, "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets."
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One last passage here, look in Acts 28 and verse 23. Acts 28 and verse 23, because Paul is now in his own hired house and he's teaching. And in Acts 28 and verse 23, the Bible says, "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning until evening." Wow!
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Now our Lord said, "Do not even begin to think, don't even let it enter into your mind that I've come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill." So if our Lord did not come to set them aside, obviously it would be unwise for you and I to try to set them aside. It would be unwise for you and I to try to unhitch from the Old Testament, or to denounce the Old Testament in any way whatsoever.
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What we should do today is develop their implications and applications in our present day setting. Now, there are very serious problems in denying the Old Testament and its application for today. You've heard me say this in times past. I'm going to say it again. Listen carefully. That the New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed. And the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed. In other words, there is a continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament. And if you denigrate and denounce and deny the Old Testament, then by the same token you are denigrating, denouncing, and denying the New Testament. Did you know, according to the Blue Letter Bible, that there are 855 quotes from the Old Testament in the New Testament.
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Now stop and think about it. 855 direct quotes from the Old Testament in the New Testament. That does not count the 493 allusions that are in the New Testament to the Old Testament, nor does it count the 138 possible allusions back to the Old Testament. So the New Testament has its foundation in the Old Testament. And you try to destroy the Old Testament at the same time you're going to destroy the New Testament as well. And did you know, by the way, the very first verse in the New Testament teaches the continuity of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Because the very first verse in the New Testament is Matthew 1 and verse 1, which says very clearly, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." And you have to know who David was and Abraham in order to know who Jesus Christ really was. And the Canon Bible website says that Jesus Christ Himself quoted from 24 different Old Testament books.
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Obviously, when He said, "I came not to destroy the law or the prophets, but I came to fulfill," He did not set them aside. And when you understand Psalm 119 and verse 89, when the Bible says, "Forever, O Lord, is thy word settled in the heavens," obviously it's not going to be set aside either. So, let me point something else out that's very emphatic. There's a lot today being said against just the book of Genesis. In fact, there's a lot being said against the first 11 chapters of Genesis. Those first 11 chapters are being denied left and right by evolutionists, by men who do not believe the doctrine of creation. Why is there such an attack on the first 11 chapters of Genesis? And the answer is because every major doctrine of the Bible is found in those first 11 chapters in seed form. And if you can destroy those first 11 chapters then you can destroy the entire Bible. So obviously if you are going to try to deny the Old Testament then you are also going to deny the New Testament.
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If you do away with the Old Testament, how in the world will you ever learn anything about the holiness of God, the justice of God, or the mercy of God? But even a greater question would be this. How would you even know who Jesus Christ is? How would you know about His so great salvation? How could you even prove who He was without the Old Testament? How could you even see prophecy or understand prophecy being fulfilled if you deny the Old Testament? You see, the truth of the matter is this. Grace does not destroy the law of God. We often hear Christian people say, "Well, we're not under the law, we're under grace."
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And they have no idea what they're saying. It is true that we are not under the law as a standard for justification. The law of God is not our standard for salvation. It is true that we are under the standard of grace. I'm going to point this out in just a few minutes. It's true we are under the standard of grace, but grace does not nullify the law of God.
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It does not negate it. The Old Testament is full of law, but it's also full of grace. Do you remember? In Genesis 6 and verse 8, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Anybody that's ever been saved has been saved by grace. If you think that people in the Old Testament were saved by law keeping, you're mistaken. No one has ever been saved by keeping the law. Anyone that's ever been saved has been saved by grace. Even Moses, the lawgiver, in Exodus 33 and verse 13 prayed and said, "Now therefore I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, and that I may find grace in thy sight, and consider that this nation is thy people." He's praying for grace. Even Gideon in Judges 6 and verse 17 said, "If I have now found grace in thy sight, show me a sign that thou talkest with me." So simply because we are justified by grace and not by works does not mean that we can live any way that we choose.
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That does not mean that we can live any way that we please. The apostle Paul dealt with this in Romans 6 and verse 1 and 2 when he said this, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid." That is, perish the thought, don't even think that. "How shall we who are dead to sin live any longer therein?" So when someone says, "Well, I'm saved by grace, I can do as I please." No. Grace enables us to be obedient. It is the law that gives us direction as to how to live and how to please God. It is the law that teaches us that we're dead to sin because of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Now, when you read through the New Testament, you're going to find negative passages concerning the law of God. If you will take the time to look at the context, you will find that there are four explanations that will explain those negative passages in the context, and usually the context is going to be one of these four explanations. The first one is very simple. There are those passages that deny or denounce the Law of God as a means of justification.
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We're not saved by works. We're not saved by keeping the Law. No one has ever been saved by keeping the Law, neither can we be saved in that way. The Bible says in Galatians 2 and verse 16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law, for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified." That's a negative passage. It's denouncing the law as the means or the standard of justification. Most Christians will read Romans 6 and verse 14, and they'll say, "Aha, here's a verse that proves absolutely that the law has nothing to do with us." Because Romans 6:14 says this, "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you're not under the law, but under grace." "Aha, I'm not under the law, I'm under grace."
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Well, what about the context? The Apostle Paul starts his argument for justification by faith alone in Romans 3 and verse 31, and it runs all the way through Romans chapter 8. And if you would read the context of Romans 6 and 7, you'll find what the Apostle is saying there. We are not under the standard of the law for justification, but we are under the standard of grace. So Romans 6:14 is not saying that the law has been done away with, it's been invalidated, it's been negated, it's been abrogated, it's been set aside. No. It's just saying the law is not our standard. The opposite of that you will find in Galatians 5 and verse 4. Listen to this one. The Apostle said, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law, you're fallen from grace." Now, when the Apostle Paul says that someone is fallen from grace, it does not mean that they were saved and they lost their salvation. Listen to what he said, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law, you're fallen from grace."
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He is saying that if you seek to be justified by the law, you're seeking to be justified by a different standard. And Christ is absolutely no effect unto you, and you've fallen, that is, you've left the standard of grace. So, you can either be justified by grace or seek to be justified by the law, and if you're seeking to be justified by the law, you're seeking to be justified by works and not by grace. So when the Apostle Paul says we're not under the law, but we're under grace, he's not saying the law's been done away with. He's just simply saying it's not our standard for justification.
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How about this one in Romans 10 and verse 4? The Bible says, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. Now that doesn't say that Christ ended the law. It says that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Why is He the end of the law for righteousness? Because He obeyed the law personally, perfectly, and perpetually, and He's the only one that worked out a perfect righteousness. I don't need to seek righteousness by my works because Christ worked it out perfectly. It's not saying that He's done away with or destroyed the law. Righteousness is only by Jesus Christ, because He's the only one that gave to the law that which it demands.
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So, there are negative passages that deny and denounce the law as a means of justification. Secondly, there are negative passages that refer to the death-dealing nature of sin in relation to the law. Well, the apostle said in Romans 7 and verse 10, "And the commandment which was ordained to life I found to be death." What? The commandment which was ordained to life I found to be death. Really, Paul?
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How could you say that? Well, you remember Paul also said, "I was alive once without the law, but when the law came, sin revived and I died." In other words, I thought I was all right. Until I saw the spiritual application of God's law, then sin revived and I died. That which I thought was life turned out to be death to me. Why? Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." And what did it say in 1 John 3 and verse 4? "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the law, for sin is the transgression of the law." So you have these passages then that refer to the death-dealing nature of sin in relationship to the Law. Okay? Now, there are those passages that deny and denounce the Law as a means of justification. There are those passages that refer to the death-dealing nature of sin in relationship to the Law. Then thirdly, there are those passages that deal with the curse of the Law.
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Let me show you. If you will turn in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Galatians 3. Galatians 3. Notice if you would please, verse 10. Galatians 3, verse 10. "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." So God says, if you do not render to the law that personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience, you're under its curse. There are these passages that refer to the curse of the law. And the curse of the law comes upon those who sin. Well, if you would skip down to chapter 3, and look, if you would please, at verse 13.
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Galatians 3, verse 13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree." So, the law that cursed us, our Lord has redeemed us from that curse by being the perfect sacrifice and by giving a perfect obedience. Now, consequently, we are no longer under the curse. Note, if you would, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us." So here is a passage then that talks about the Law and the curse that people are under who have not been redeemed by the work and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ did not redeem us from the Law. He redeemed us from the curse of the Law. The Law is still in effect. It is still in existence. It is still applicable.
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Now, I'm going to point this out in the future, but I will tell you right now, there is not even any sanctification without the Law, because the Law is our direction, and we have to obey God's Word, and as the Holy Spirit works in us and enables us to obey, then we are indeed sanctified. But here's a passage that deals with the curses. And anytime you begin to look at a context, you can see that the negative passages can be explained either by denying or denouncing it as a means of justification, the death-dealing nature of sin in relationship to the Law, or those passages referred to the curse of the Law. There's a fourth one. If you would turn right over to the book of Ephesians chapter 2, Ephesians chapter 2, look if you would, beginning there with verse 13, and we'll read through verse 17.
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And that is, those passages that refer to the ceremonial ordinances, or the rituals that were in the Old Testament. Notice if you would, Ephesians chapter 2, verse 13. He says, "But now in Christ Jesus, you who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, that wall that separated, having abolished in his flesh the enmity," now watch carefully, "even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace, and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." Note, if you would, verse 15, "having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments," He doesn't stop there. He's not talking about the Ten Commandments. He says, "even the law of commandments contained in ordinances." So we're talking about the ceremonies and the rituals of the tabernacle and of the temple.
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Jesus Christ has fulfilled all of the pictures, all of the types, all the emblems, He is reality. We no longer have the picture because we have the reality. That's why the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 5 and verse 7, "For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." I said to one brother this morning who was asking me about this passage. His wife was sitting by him, and so I asked him, I said, "Had you rather kiss your wife or kiss a picture of your wife?"
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Stop and think about this. Whatever you have of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament is a picture. What we have in the New Testament is the reality. Okay? He took away all of these rituals. When I say He took them away, let me explain it. He fulfilled them. In reality, none of God's law has been set aside. It has been fulfilled by all of these rituals, and all of these ceremonies, and all of these pictures, and all these types. So let me explain it like this. Do you remember in the Old Testament, if you wanted to worship God, you had to bring a sacrifice.
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You had to come to the priest. You had to come to the altar. You had to come to the temple. And if you didn't do those things, you didn't worship God. Well, the same is true in the New Testament. If you don't do those things, you don't worship God. But we have to understand Jesus Christ, according to Hebrews 13 and verse 10, is our altar. Jesus Christ is our sacrifice. Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest. Jesus Christ is our temple. And so we come to God the Father, bringing a sacrifice, Jesus Christ. We come to Him as our Great High Priest. We come to Him and He brings us to God the Father.
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Everything that the law required in those ceremonies, He is in reality. So He's fulfilled that very clearly.
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Now, any time you find a negative passage in the New Testament concerning the law, if you will study the context, you will find that one of these four explanations will explain the negative context or the negative passage concerning the law. Okay?
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Now, let me try to tie this together and try to make some applications. First of all is this, the Word of God tells us in Romans 7 and verse 12, listen carefully, God says, "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good." Now if the law is holy, if the law is just, if the law is good, why would God nullify it? Why would God abrogate it? Why would God set it aside? And when you posit a change in the law, you also have to posit a change in God, for His Word is like Himself. It is immutable. Let me show you.
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Go back in your Bibles, if you would, to Matthew 5. Matthew 5. And I want you to look, if you would please, at verse 17 again. I also want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 119. Psalm 119. Go ahead and find that passage, please. Some of you may have what I'm going to refer to. Some of you may not, but that's okay. So here we go. Look at Matthew 5 and verse 17. Our Lord says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets, I'm not come to destroy, but to fulfill." So he says, "I'm not come to set aside any of the Old Testament, not the first little bit."
#59 | 47:58 to 48:51 | cleaned
Then he says this, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Now notice if you would, in verse 17 he says, "the law or the prophets." Now in verse 18 he singles out the law. He says, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
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Now let me show you how precise our Lord is, and let me show you how He is telling us that the law is still valid. He said, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." So what is a jot, or yod? If you would turn in your Bibles to Psalm 119, and look right above verse 73. Psalm 119 is an acrostic, and each eight verses begins with a Hebrew letter, the same Hebrew letter. If you have these letters in your Bible, you will find a yod or a jot right above verse 73. Now if it's not in your Bible, if you'll watch my finger, I will make this Hebrew letter for you. Now watch it, you didn't see it. Number one, you weren't looking. Number two, it's too small. It's kind of like our comma, just smaller. So our Lord said, "It's easier for heaven and earth to pass away than it is for the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet to pass from the law till all be fulfilled."
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That sounds pretty valid to me and pretty abiding. And then he goes on to say this, watch it in verse 17 again. "Think not that I'm come to destroy the law or the prophets, I'm not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass one jot or one tittle, shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." What is a tittle?
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Well, let me write the word, our English word, "little" for you. Watch my finger. L-I-T-T-L-E.
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Now, I made my T's a little fat like my L. How do you know which is a T and how do you know which is an L? Oh, I'll solve that problem for you. I'll go back, put this little marker across my T. How do you tell the L from the I? Oh, I'll go back. I'll put a little dot over the I. A tittle is not even a letter. A tittle is a small distinguishing mark between two Hebrew letters. Jesus Christ said it's easier for heaven and earth to pass away than it is for the smallest Hebrew letter or the smallest distinguishing mark between two Hebrew letters to pass until all of the law be fulfilled.
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That sounds abiding to me. That sounds valid to me. When he says, "Do not even begin to think that I've come to set it aside. No, I've come to fulfill."
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Secondly, if God's law is so holy that it required the perfect obedience and death of His Son, after all that our Lord paid and suffered, why would God now set it aside? Why would He nullify it? Why would He abrogate it? Why would He say, "I didn't mean it, it's no longer there"? No. If that law was so holy and so just and demanded the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, and demanded the obedience of His Son, Jesus Christ, do you think after all our Lord suffered and went through that our Lord said, "Well, I really didn't mean it, it's no good now"? Of course not. Of course not. God is not going to abandon His holy law, for His law is an expression of Himself.
#66 | 52:17 to 53:18 | cleaned
You know what the Bible says in Malachi 3 and verse 6? It proclaims God's immutability, God's unchangeableness. He said, "I, the Lord, change not. Therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed." I don't know about you, but in light of that latter part, I want God to be immutable. I want Him to be unchangeable because I don't want to be consumed. And God's law is like Himself. It is immutable.
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There's no way in the world that you can deny the Old Testament without denying the New Testament. And when you have 855 direct quotes from the Old Testament in the New Testament, if you rip out all of those quotes denying the Old Testament, you've destroyed the New Testament, not counting all the allusions. Our Lord did not come to set aside the law or the prophets. He came to fulfill. And we're going to see the absolute importance of the Old Testament and the promises of the law. They are there.
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You for the totality of Your Word. We do not have two Bibles, we have one Bible. One God, one word, one truth, one salvation. We commit ourselves unto Thee and ask You, Father, to establish our thoughts, give us direction, and teach us and build us up in the most holy faith. In Thy name we pray, amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T16:37:45Z

Promises Of The Law - Part 1

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this introductory sermon, Pastor John Weaver argues that the Old Testament law contains promises, not just precepts, and that these promises are still valid for believers today. He distinguishes between the law as a means of justification (which it never was) and the law as a guide for living. He refutes the idea that Christians should 'unhitch' from the Old Testament, showing from Scripture that the law is holy, just, and good, and that Christ came to fulfill it, not destroy it. The sermon lays groundwork for a series on the promises found in the Mosaic law.

Introduction: The Promises of the Law

Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 8:56 acknowledges that God kept all His promises given through Moses, establishing that the law contains promises.

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 8:56

"Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised. There hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant."

The Nature of a Promise Without the Word 'Promise'

A promise can exist without using the word 'promise' when one party obligates themselves to act based on another's response, as seen in conditional statements.

Distinction Between the Promises of the Law and the Promise of Salvation

The law could never save; justification is by faith alone, not by works of the law, as multiple New Testament passages affirm.

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:20

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

So very pointedly, there is no one justified by deeds of the law. In Romans 3 and verse 28,

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:20

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

Again, the Word of God is telling us we cannot be justified by the law. Galatians 2 and verse 16,

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:20

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

It cannot get any plainer than this, "for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." The apostle said in Galatians 2 and verse 21,

Scripture Reading — Galatians 2:21

"I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

The Law's Demands and Human Inability

The law demands personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience, which only Jesus Christ has fulfilled; even hypothetical future perfection cannot atone for past sins.

Biblical Evidence for Promises in the Law

Joshua 23:14 and Hebrews 8:6 confirm that the Old Covenant had promises, though the New Covenant has better promises; all God's promises are fulfilled in Christ.

Scripture Reading — Joshua 23:14

"And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth,"

that is, he's dying.

Scripture Reading — Joshua 23:14

"And you know in all your hearts and all your souls that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you. All are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof."

In Joshua 23 the promises here are referred to as the good things. Now if you would turn over in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 8 and look at verse 6. Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 6.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 8:6

" Now if the New Covenant was established upon better promises, then obviously the Old Covenant had promises as well. But the New Covenant just is superior. It has better promises. So obviously then we do indeed have promises in the Old Testament. In fact, the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 1 and verse 20, "

Examples of Implied Promises in the Law

Deuteronomy 7:12-15, Deuteronomy 29:9, and Joshua 1:7-8 show conditional promises of blessing and prosperity for obedience, without using the word 'promise.'

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 7:12-15

"Wherefore it shall come to pass, if you hearken to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers. And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee. He will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thine kind, and the flocks of thy sheep, and the land which He sware unto thy fathers to

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 29:9

" So here is an implied promise. If we are obedient, then God is going to make us prosper in all that we do. If you would turn right on over now to the book of Joshua chapter 1, you will see this thought exemplified and what God said to Joshua. Joshua 1, beginning there with verse 7, Joshua 1, verse 7, God says to Joshua, "

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee.

The Danger of Denying the Old Testament

Some modern teachers advocate 'unhitching' from the Old Testament, but Scripture declares all Scripture is inspired and profitable, and the Old Testament is foundational to the New.

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished, unto all good works."

Scripture Reading — Matthew 4:4

" So if the Old Testament is the Word of God, it proceeds from the mouth of God. And someone who would deny, and denigrate, and denounce the Old Testament has to deny, and denigrate, and denounce God Himself, because God breathed these Scriptures. They are indeed the inspired Word of God. May I also remind you of this, in Romans 15 and verse 4.

The Apostle Paul said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 15:4

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime,"

he's talking about the Old Testament.

Scripture Reading — Romans 15:4

"Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

Christ Came to Fulfill, Not Destroy, the Law

In Matthew 5:17-19, Jesus explicitly states He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them, emphasizing the enduring validity of even the smallest details.

Now, the interesting thing is, our Lord said in verse 17, and I'll come back to this passage, but He says,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:17-19

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill."

The Old Testament as 'the Law and the Prophets'

The phrase 'the Law and the Prophets' refers to the entire Old Testament, as demonstrated in Matthew 22:40, John 1:45, Acts 13:15, and other passages.

He does not cite one of the ten. Look if you would please, verse 36, Matthew 22,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:36-40

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?"

Jesus said unto him,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:36-40

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment, and the second is likened to it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

Now watch verse 40,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:36-40

"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Scripture Reading — John 1:45

"Philip findeth Nathanael, and said unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph."

Scripture Reading — John 1:45

"After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, You men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on."

So, what indeed do the Law and the Prophets refer to? The totality of the Old Testament. If you look in Acts chapter 24 and verse 14, Acts 24, and verse 14. Here it is again. The Apostle Paul says,

Scripture Reading — John 1:45

"But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets."

Scripture Reading — Acts 24:14

One last passage here, look in Acts 28 and verse 23. Acts 28 and verse 23, because Paul is now in his own hired house and he's teaching. And in Acts 28 and verse 23, the Bible says, "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning until evening." Wow! Now our Lord said, "Do not even begin to think, don't even let it enter into your mind that I've come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill." So if our Lord did not come to set them aside, obviously it would be unwise for you and I to try to set them aside. It would be unwise for you and I to try to unhitch from the Old Testament, or to denounce the Old Testament in any way whatsoever.

Continuity Between the Testaments

The New Testament is concealed in the Old, and the Old is revealed in the New; there are 855 direct Old Testament quotes in the New Testament, showing inseparable continuity.

Grace Does Not Nullify the Law

Believers are not under the law for justification but are under grace; however, grace does not abolish the law as a moral guide, and the law directs holy living.

Four Explanations for Negative New Testament Passages About the Law

Promises Of The Law - Part 1

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	-D7SDtFslUg
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Justification, Faith, and Imputed Righteousness: Sola Fide And Justification
Genre	Sermon
Date	2019-03-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 005: Promises Of The Law — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	69

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Promises of the Law: Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 8:56 acknowledges that God kept all His promises given through Moses, establishing that the law contains promises.
The Nature of a Promise Without the Word 'Promise': A promise can exist without using the word 'promise' when one party obligates themselves to act based on another's response, as seen in conditional statements.
Distinction Between the Promises of the Law and the Promise of Salvation: The law could never save; justification is by faith alone, not by works of the law, as multiple New Testament passages affirm.
The Law's Demands and Human Inability: The law demands personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience, which only Jesus Christ has fulfilled; even hypothetical future perfection cannot atone for past sins.
Biblical Evidence for Promises in the Law: Joshua 23:14 and Hebrews 8:6 confirm that the Old Covenant had promises, though the New Covenant has better promises; all God's promises are fulfilled in Christ.
Examples of Implied Promises in the Law: Deuteronomy 7:12-15, Deuteronomy 29:9, and Joshua 1:7-8 show conditional promises of blessing and prosperity for obedience, without using the word 'promise.'
The Danger of Denying the Old Testament: Some modern teachers advocate 'unhitching' from the Old Testament, but Scripture declares all Scripture is inspired and profitable, and the Old Testament is foundational to the New.
Christ Came to Fulfill, Not Destroy, the Law: In Matthew 5:17-19, Jesus explicitly states He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them, emphasizing the enduring validity of even the smallest details.
The Old Testament as 'the Law and the Prophets': The phrase 'the Law and the Prophets' refers to the entire Old Testament, as demonstrated in Matthew 22:40, John 1:45, Acts 13:15, and other passages.
Continuity Between the Testaments: The New Testament is concealed in the Old, and the Old is revealed in the New; there are 855 direct Old Testament quotes in the New Testament, showing inseparable continuity.
Grace Does Not Nullify the Law: Believers are not under the law for justification but are under grace; however, grace does not abolish the law as a moral guide, and the law directs holy living.
Four Explanations for Negative New Testament Passages About the Law: Negative statements about the law in the New Testament refer to: (1) the law as a means of justification, (2) the death-dealing nature of sin in relation to the law, (3) the curse of the law, or (4) ceremonial ordinances fulfilled in Christ.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

The law contains promises, not just commands.

Solomon's reference to God's promises given through Moses (1 Kings 8:56) and the conditional blessings in Deuteronomy demonstrate that the law includes promises.

Weaver reads 1 Kings 8:56 and Deuteronomy 7:12-15, showing that God promised blessings for obedience, even without using the word 'promise.'

The law was never a means of salvation.

Multiple New Testament passages explicitly state that no one is justified by works of the law; salvation is by faith in Christ alone.

Weaver cites Romans 3:20, 28; Galatians 2:16, 21; and 3:18 to prove that justification is by faith, not law-keeping.

Christ did not abolish the law but fulfilled it.

Jesus' statement in Matthew 5:17-19, along with the permanence of the jot and tittle, shows that the law remains in force until heaven and earth pass away.

Weaver exegetes Matthew 5:17-19, explaining that 'destroy' means to abrogate, and 'fulfill' means to put into full force; he illustrates the jot and tittle from Psalm 119.

Denying the Old Testament destroys the foundation of the New Testament.

The New Testament is built upon the Old, with 855 direct quotes; rejecting the Old Testament logically leads to rejecting the New Testament and its teachings about Christ.

Weaver cites the number of Old Testament quotations in the New, and argues that doctrines like creation, sin, and redemption originate in Genesis 1-11.

Grace does not nullify the moral law.

Being under grace means we are not under the law for justification, but the law remains as a standard for holy living; grace empowers obedience, not license.

Weaver explains Romans 6:14 in context, showing that Paul is contrasting standards of justification, not abolishing the law; he also references Romans 6:1-2.

Negative New Testament passages about the law have specific contexts.

Passages that seem to denounce the law actually refer to (1) justification, (2) sin's death-dealing nature, (3) the curse, or (4) ceremonial ordinances, not the moral law itself.

Weaver walks through examples: Galatians 2:16 (justification), Romans 7:10 (sin and death), Galatians 3:10,13 (curse), and Ephesians 2:15 (ceremonial law).

Scripture References

1 Kings 8:56: Solomon's prayer acknowledging that God kept all His promises given through Moses, introducing the concept of promises in the law.
Romans 3:20: Cited to prove that no flesh is justified by deeds of the law; the law brings knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:28: Used to show that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Galatians 2:16: Quoted to emphasize that justification is by faith in Christ, not by works of the law.
Galatians 2:21: If righteousness came by the law, Christ died in vain; used to argue against law-based justification.
Galatians 3:18: The inheritance is not by law but by promise, given to Abraham; contrasts law and promise.
Joshua 23:14: Joshua's testimony that not one good thing God promised had failed; referred to as promises in the law.
Hebrews 8:6: Christ is mediator of a better covenant with better promises, implying the old covenant had promises.
2 Corinthians 1:20: All promises of God are yes and amen in Christ, affirming the validity of Old Testament promises.
Deuteronomy 7:12-15: Conditional blessings for obedience, demonstrating implied promises without the word 'promise.'
Deuteronomy 29:9: Keep the covenant to prosper; another implied promise of blessing for obedience.
Joshua 1:7-8: God promises prosperity and success to Joshua if he meditates on and obeys the law.
2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is inspired and profitable; used to argue that the Old Testament is Scripture and thus authoritative.
Matthew 4:4: Jesus quoted Deuteronomy, affirming that man lives by every word from God, including the Old Testament.
Romans 15:4: Whatever was written in former days (Old Testament) was written for our instruction and hope.
Matthew 5:17-19: Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or Prophets but to fulfill; not a jot or tittle will pass until all is accomplished.
Matthew 22:36-40: The greatest commandments summarize the Law and the Prophets, showing the phrase refers to the whole Old Testament.
John 1:45: Philip refers to Moses in the Law and the Prophets writing about Jesus, equating the phrase with the Old Testament.
Acts 13:15: The reading of the Law and the Prophets in the synagogue refers to the Old Testament Scriptures.
Acts 24:14: Paul believes everything written in the Law and the Prophets, again referring to the entire Old Testament.

Historical References

Solomon's prayer at the temple dedication: Weaver references 1 Kings 8:56 where Solomon blesses God for fulfilling promises made through Moses.
Modern pastor advocating 'unhitching' from the Old Testament: Weaver mentions a contemporary pastor who publicly said it is time to unhitch from the Old Testament and denounced the Ten Commandments.
Ten Commandments controversies in government buildings: Weaver notes that secular authorities often oppose posting the Ten Commandments because it creates a hostile work environment.
Jesus' temptation in the wilderness: Weaver recounts Matthew 4 where Jesus quoted Deuteronomy to resist Satan, affirming the Old Testament's authority.
Paul's teaching in his hired house in Rome: Acts 28:23 describes Paul teaching from the Law of Moses and the Prophets from morning till evening.
Blue Letter Bible and Canon Bible website statistics: Weaver cites these sources for the number of Old Testament quotations (855) and allusions in the New Testament.
Attack on the first 11 chapters of Genesis: Weaver notes that evolutionists and others deny Genesis 1-11 because every major doctrine is found there in seed form.
Old Testament saints saved by grace: Weaver mentions Noah (Genesis 6:8), Moses (Exodus 33:13), and Gideon (Judges 6:17) as examples of people who found grace.

Important Quotes

Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised. There hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

This is the foundational text for the entire series, showing that the law contains promises given through Moses.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Jesus' own words affirming the enduring validity of the Old Testament; central to Weaver's argument against antinomianism.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle, shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.

Emphasizes the permanence of the law down to the smallest details, countering claims that it has been abolished.

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good.

Paul's declaration in Romans 7:12 that the law reflects God's character, so it cannot be evil or obsolete.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.

Clarifies that Christ redeemed us from the law's curse, not from the law itself, preserving the law's moral authority.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

Why does the phrase 'promises of the law' seem contradictory to many Christians, and how does 1 Kings 8:56 challenge that perception?

[Context]

Weaver introduces the series by noting that we usually associate the law with commands, not promises, but Solomon's prayer shows otherwise.

[Question]

How would you explain the difference between the law as a means of justification and the law as a guide for Christian living?

[Context]

Weaver repeatedly emphasizes that the law cannot save, but it remains holy and useful for directing our obedience.

[Question]

What does Jesus mean when He says He came to 'fulfill' the Law and the Prophets, and how does that affect our view of the Old Testament?

[Context]

Weaver exegetes Matthew 5:17, explaining that 'fulfill' means to put into full force, not to abolish.

[Question]

Why is it dangerous to 'unhitch' from the Old Testament, according to Weaver? What are the practical consequences?

[Context]

Weaver warns that denying the Old Testament undermines the New Testament and leads to a loss of foundational doctrines.

[Question]

How do the four explanations for negative New Testament passages about the law help you reconcile apparent contradictions?

[Context]

Weaver provides a hermeneutical framework for understanding verses that seem to denounce the law.

[Question]

In what ways does the ceremonial law point to Christ, and how does that affect our worship today?

[Context]

Weaver explains that Christ is our altar, sacrifice, high priest, and temple, fulfilling the Old Testament rituals.

[Question]

How does the immutability of God relate to the permanence of His law?

[Context]

Weaver argues that if God does not change, and the law reflects His character, then the moral law cannot be set aside.

[Question]

What role does the law play in sanctification, and how does grace enable obedience?

[Context]

Weaver states that the law provides direction for holy living, and the Holy Spirit empowers believers to obey it.

Applications

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