In summary. There is nothing in the Ten Commandments that was not known in the book of Genesis and in Exodus before the giving of the Law at Sinai. Enoch condemned godlessness; Jacob took an oath; Cain refused to worship God after the due order. The Sabbath was from creation. Abraham and Isaac were both condemned for lying about their wives and putting pagan kings in jeopardy of committing adultery. Joseph went to prison by false accusation of Potipher’s wife. Jacob said that Simeon and Levi made his family “stink” because of the murder of the Shechemites. Judah begged that the brothers not shed the blood of their brother. The Egyptians knew it was wrong to steal and the brothers of Joseph were horrified at the “theft” of Joseph’s cup. Abraham purchased a grave site for his family, evidencing the use of contracts. Canaan was cursed because Ham disrespected his father. The whole book of Genesis is a sordid account, in spite of the wonders of the promise of Grace, of transgressions of the Ten Commandments by people who knew they were doing wrong. This law is written on the hearts of every man, embedded in his very nature, as Paul says in Romans 2, so that all men are without excuse. The law didn’t cure sin before Moses and it didn’t cure sin after. Neither will it cure sin today. The law is diagnostic, not curative, just like a thermometer: it can read the temperature, but cannot effect a cure. The cure is in Christ alone, not mixed with the works of the law. It was not given to Israel to teach them right from wrong, but to make sin exceeding sinful. It was not given for obedience, but because of transgressions, as Paul says. [Gal. 3:19] For you who value Calvin, look up his commentary at this place.

I will admit this much: the law is the civil expression of the holy and righteous nature of God Himself, and as such, can never be abrogated, for to do so would be for God to deny Himself. It was known before Moses, was given to Moses on Tables of Stone, and continues as a moral guide to the child of God, so it continues today with its principles written and understood by all men everywhere who are not utterly blasted with seared consciences, abandoned of God.

As a civil law Moses is abolished. As a ceremonial law, Moses is abolished. Jesus does not reign from Jerusalem and He is a priest after the order of Melchisedec, necessitating a change in the law—everything from Aaron and Moses is abolished. [Heb. 7:11-14 There’s that cursed 70ad Scripture again! Of course, if it was abolished in 70 ad then it remained abolished until theonomy arose!] Aaron and Moses were not crucified for us, but they pointed to Him who was. Jesus reigns from his eternal Mt. Sion, the mount that cannot be touched; and He, Himself, will be our temple throughout eternity, and his sacrifice and mediation have already been accepted in that temple. [Rev. 21:22]

When Christ appeared in our flesh we see the law of God written on the fleshly tables of His heart so that He might be a perfect sacrifice for sins. When His flesh was torn, the veil of the temple was torn so that Moses and Aaron pass away and the veil is taken from our hearts to behold as in a glass, when reading the Scriptures, the beautiful face—not of Moses, but of our Lord Jesus. The Tables of Stone were a ministry of death [2Cor. 3:7] because of they represented the hard, stony hearts of Israel, who still read the Scriptures with the veil on their faces.

But faith is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who by the preaching of Christ crucified, takes away the veil and the stony heart and gives a heart of flesh, like the heart of Christ in whose image we are predestined to be conformed.

Finally, Kerry never answered the question, “Why did Jesus go back to Heaven?” If physical manifestation is so all-fired important, why did He go back to Heaven? The answer is a simple one: Because His kingdom is not of this world. The church would be a much different institution if Jesus were still on this earth.

He Himself answered the question: Joh 16:7 “ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

Because of the gift of the Spirit to those who believe the Gospel, it is not necessary for Christ to be on earth to direct the action. His people have eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to understand. They do not need to see it with their eyes, taste and touch, or hear with their ears. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. He takes the things of Christ and ministers them to us: taking away the veil, giving us fleshly hearts upon which the nature of Christ is imprinted, for the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit that is given to us. Rom 5:5 in context.

The very absence of the resurrected Christ is a physical [?] refutation of all the claims of theonomy. He went back to heaven, sat down at the right hand of God, and sin is put away forever by His one sacrifice, for He has perfected His people forever. [Heb. 10—that blasted 70 ad book!]. If you begin with the Spirit, you will not be perfected by the flesh.

The refutation of Gnosticism is not materialistic theonomy: it is the man Christ Jesus in heaven at the right hand of God, who will come again to judge the living and the dead, not to be demoted to a throne in the desert of Judea, bless His Holy Name forever.

“10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2Pe 3:10-14)