Page 80 - Laying Down the Law

A Law For Stony Hearts

n the preceding chapter we looked at the unique environment Yahweh provided for
Ithe Law of Moses, an environment that no longer exists. In this post I want to look
at a parallel theme. The Law of Moses was written for a specific type of man. Those
who have been born again of the Spirit of Christ are no longer this type of man.
In the New Testament we find that there are two types of men who exist today.
These are the natural man born of the first Adam, and the spiritual man born of the
Last Adam.

I Corinthians 15:44-48
There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. So also it is written, "The
first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving
spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The
first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the
earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are
those who are heavenly.

When the Law of Moses was delivered, there existed only one type of man on the
earth. All men were earthy. Among the most common things that we find when we dig
into the earth are stones. This is also what we find when we look inside the natural
man. In the soil of his flesh there resides a stony heart.

Ezekiel 36:26
I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh...

When we study the Scriptures as a faithful workman, rightly dividing the Word
of God, we discover that the Law of Moses was written for men with stony hearts.

I Timothy 1:8-10
We know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law
is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for
the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of
fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for
sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other
thing that is contrary to sound doctrine...

Paul declares elsewhere that, although we all began our lives as slaves to sin, this
is no longer our identity. It is altogether inappropriate to describe the new creature
in Christ as lawless, insubordinate, ungodly, a sinner, unholy and profane. Such a
description describes the life of all men before salvation in Christ, but not afterwards.