Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Exodus 1:1 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; they came each one with his household: |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Exodus 1:1 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; each came with his household: |
Subject: Is the Christian under Law? |
Bible Note: Adam's first sin was the transgression of God's law to him (Genesis 2:16-17). It is clear from verses 3:11,17 that God referred back to his commandment in his judgment of Adam. Cain, likewise, apparently knew the sacrifice guidelines and violated them (Genesis 4:5-7). God had clearly revealed His will to the patriarchs as well, even though the Mosaic Law had not been established. The book of Romans even teaches us that for Gentiles such as myself, who were never subjects of the Mosaic Covenant with its Law, had the moral requirements of that Law written upon my heart (Romans 2:12-15). I was never "under the Law." However, had God not regenerated me, I would have "died without law," because God's larger covenant of works was established with Adam and his posterity, and I like all men (save Christ) have violated that covenant. The error of the Pharisees was not embracing the Law with all their hearts, but rather superficially keeping the outward trappings of the Law while their hearts were wicked and prideful. That is the whole theme of Jesus' discourse in Matthew 5 chastizing the "righteousness" of the Pharisees in only going as far as the letter of the Law dictated. Seriously, can one really look at the Pharisees' attitude toward law in the four Gospels and say that it was law's fault? Jesus condemns the Pharisees not for OBEYING the Law, but rather for not embracing the higher morality behind the Law, using several examples from the Law and indicating that God's standard of righteousness is far higher than what the Pharisees demonstrate (Matthew 5:17-48). The moral law is not unrighteous (Romans 7:7-12) nor is it "dead." Try reading Psalm 119 and witness in those 176 verses how useful, how vivid and alive the law was to King David, who was a partaker of the Holy Spirit just as we are (1 Samuel 16:13). The difference between David's embracing of God's moral law and the manner of the Pharisees toward the same law clearly demonstrates that it is not law that is dead, but the hearts of those who attempt to use it as a basis for their own works righteousness. The Spirit uses law to convict us of our sin (even after we are saved), to show us God's perfection and holiness (i.e the goal of our sanctification), and gives us the clear boundaries of His moral will: "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me... Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way." --Psalm 119:97-98,104 (NKJV) Q: What is sin? A: Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God. --Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 14 --Joe! |