JesusSaidFollowMe Blog

Did the Holy Spirit replace the law of Moses? Some Christians have concluded that based on Gal. 5:18 and Rom. 7:6. Yet, perhaps a better term to describe the relationship between the law of Moses and the Spirit is “contrast” instead of “replace.”

So, does the Spirit replace/contrast the law of Moses? Yes, but we need to be careful not to read the word “only” into Gal. 5:18 and Rom. 7:6, since the law of Moses is contrasted with at least 3 other truths…

4 Contrasts to the Law of Moses

1. The law of Moses vs. the Spirit

“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Gal. 5:18).

“But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit” (Rom. 7:6).

2. The law of Moses vs. faith

“Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed…But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian…” (Gal. 3:23-25; cf. justification 3:11-12, 24-25, and righteousness 3:21).

3. The law of Moses vs. adoption

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who are under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4-5).

4. The law of Moses vs. the law of Christ

“To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law” (1 Cor. 9:20-21).

(This is not to imply that there was no Spirit or faith during the law of Moses. However, few Israelites possessed saving faith or the indwelling Spirit. But, all New Covenant saints have faith in Christ and the indwelling Spirit.)

It’s important to understand that all 4 of the above contrasts refer to the Old Covenant law of Moses, not to all law, including the New Covenant law of Christ. The whole context of Galatians is about the law of Moses in redemptive history. And, one of those contrasts above (1 Cor. 9:20-21) actually distinguishes and affirms the law of Christ. Plus, Galatians includes several commands, and also affirms the law of Christ…

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2)

Jesus Christ the New Lawgiver has a law/commands inspired and written by the Spirit in the New Testament, for His people who have faith in Christ, who are adopted by the Father, and led by the Spirit. Here’s how I explained it in my book “ALL Old Testament Laws Cancelled”…

“Moses’ Law Prepared Unjustified, Spirit-Less Slaves
For Christ’s 1st Coming

One reason why God gave the law of Moses to Israel was to tutor/prepare them for Messiah’s 1st coming, so they might be justified by faith, adopted, and Spirit indwelled. But now, we don’t need the Mosaic law to tutor/prepare us because Messiah has already come, we are justified by faith (Gal. 3:23-25), adopted (Gal. 3:26 - 4:7), and Spirit-indwelled (Gal. 5:18).

Christ’s Law Helps Prepare Justified, Spirit-Indwelled Heirs
For His 2nd Coming

Moses’ law prepared unjustified, Spirit-less slaves for Christ’s 1st coming. But, Christ’s law helps prepare justified, Spirit-indwelled heirs for His 2nd coming.” (“ALL Old Testament Laws Cancelled”, 24 Reasons Why All Old Testament Laws Are Cancelled, And All New Testament Laws Are for Our Obedience, by Greg Gibson, pp. 118.)

23. The Bible Never Criticizes the Law of Christ, But Praises It

Some Covenant Theologians think that the law of Christ = the law of Moses. However, does the law of Christ include, “…nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material?” (Lev. 19:19). And, does the Law of Moses include, “Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…?” (Mt. 28:19). No, the law of Moses and the law of Christ obviously refer to 2 different time periods in redemptive history.

The Bible criticizes the law of Moses, but never the law of Christ. In fact, the Bible praises the law of Christ…

Christ Is a New Lawgiver, Not Just a Law Keeper:
See the “12 New Commands From Christ’s New Law” below.

Messiah’s Law Is for the Gentiles:
“…He will bring forth justice to the nations…the coastlands shall wait for His law” (Is. 42:1, 4).

Christians Are Not Lawless, But In-Lawed to Christ:
“…not being without law of God, but in-lawed (Gk.) to Christ…” (1 Cor. 9:21).

We Must Fulfill the Law of Christ:
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).

What exactly is the law of Christ? Scripture doesn’t tell us. But, it may be all laws given by Christ and His apostles in the New Testament. Doug Moo thinks that in addition to those laws it includes the Holy Spirit’s enablement and the motivation of love…

“It is more difficult to determine whether the law of Christ includes specific teachings and principles. Many deny that this is the case, but their reasons for doing so often betray a bias against finding any specific demands as binding on Christians. The work of Schrage and others has shown that Paul and the other apostles were quite willing to impose specific commandments on their charges; and these commandments were, in fact, often drawn from, or reflective of, Jesus’ own teachings. For these reasons, I think it is highly probable that Paul thought of the law of Christ as including within it the teachings of Jesus and the apostolic witness, based on his life and teaching, about what it means to reverence God in daily life. This is not, however, to deny the importance of love or the direction of the Spirit. The ‘law of Christ,’ Paul’s shorthand expression for that form of God’s law applicable to new covenant believers, includes all these. Longenecker’s succinct summary says it well: The law of Christ stands in Paul’s thought for those ‘prescriptive principles stemming from the heart of the gospel (usually embodied in the example and teachings of Jesus), which are meant to be applied to specific situations by the direction and enablement of the Holy Spirit, being always motivated and conditioned by love.’”

Moo may be right. But, it’s not important whether the phrase “law of Christ” includes Christ’s laws alone, or also the Holy Sprit and love, since we agree they’re included in the New Testament, and crucial for obedience. Remember, this book focuses on which laws to obey (N.T.), more than how to obey (the Holy Spirit’s grace) and why to obey (love). Even as the law of Moses functioned as both regulation and revelation, so may the law of Christ.

(Excerpted from the book: “ALL Old Testament Laws Cancelled”
24 Reasons Why All Old Testament Laws Are Cancelled, And All New Testament Laws Are for Our Obedience, by Greg Gibson, pp. 121-122.)