Just want to make sure I'm not misunderstood -- I believe it is valid and helpful to look at the law under those three heads. I just don't think we can
pigeonhole them neatly that way, as if to say, "This law is moral, that law is ceremonial, this other law is civic, etc." I believe the whole law has
moral application, the whole law has ceremonial significance (pointing to Christ), and the whole law has civic application.
Another example: Lev. 17:11 says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life." This is part of the background for the writer of Hebrews when he says, "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Heb. 9:22). The ceremonial perspective on this is obvious, as it points to the perfect blood sacrifice of Christ.
But we must not simply say that law has been done away with. It is still true that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Blood sacrifice is absolutely necessary for us. We could say that it is a moral imperative -- it is required of me to offer a blood sacrifice. But how do I do that? After the cross, I offer that sacrifice by pleading the once-for-all finished sacrifice of Christ. That law is not just a ceremonial law -- a law which pointed to Christ and which is now done away with. It is an expression of the very character of God, as is all the law -- forgiveness is only obtained through sacrifice -- and that is morally required of men for all time.
Honestly, however, I can't right now think of a civic perspective on this law, except in a very broad sociological sense. Forgiveness (which is only found in the blood of Christ) is essential for social order over time. Think about the difference between Western societies and those cultures which have not historically been influenced by Christianity. I'm reminded of a cartoon I saw recently. One man (caricatured as a Middle Easterner) says, "I must kill that man, because his relative killed my relative." The other man (caricatured as a Westerner) says, "When did that happen?" The first one says, "In 1348." So we have conflict in the Middle East based on conflict which has been going on for hundreds of years -- tribal warfare. Contrast this with the West. Look at the United States since the War Between the States. Sure, some in the South talk about how "the South will rise again." But they're not serious. We don't have men from Atlanta hunting down descendants of General Sherman and killing them for what Sherman did to Atlanta. Likewise in the aftermath of World War II. Consider the horror Japan wrought on the United States at Pearl Harbor (don't go off into the Hiroshima discussion). After the war, the United States helped rebuild Japan, and now has great relations with Japan. We're not still trying to wipe them off the face of the map.
Why is this so? Because the West has been influenced by the doctrine of forgiveness, which is central to Christianity. We don't need to take our own revenge, for, on the one hand, God says, "Vengeance is Mine." But also we can forgive our enemies, because God in Christ -- through the blood on the cross -- has forgiven our sins. That concept has given direction to our culture for centuries.
So the "ceremonial" law of shedding of blood has tremendous civil impact as well.
Another example: Lev. 17:11 says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life." This is part of the background for the writer of Hebrews when he says, "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Heb. 9:22). The ceremonial perspective on this is obvious, as it points to the perfect blood sacrifice of Christ.
But we must not simply say that law has been done away with. It is still true that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Blood sacrifice is absolutely necessary for us. We could say that it is a moral imperative -- it is required of me to offer a blood sacrifice. But how do I do that? After the cross, I offer that sacrifice by pleading the once-for-all finished sacrifice of Christ. That law is not just a ceremonial law -- a law which pointed to Christ and which is now done away with. It is an expression of the very character of God, as is all the law -- forgiveness is only obtained through sacrifice -- and that is morally required of men for all time.
Honestly, however, I can't right now think of a civic perspective on this law, except in a very broad sociological sense. Forgiveness (which is only found in the blood of Christ) is essential for social order over time. Think about the difference between Western societies and those cultures which have not historically been influenced by Christianity. I'm reminded of a cartoon I saw recently. One man (caricatured as a Middle Easterner) says, "I must kill that man, because his relative killed my relative." The other man (caricatured as a Westerner) says, "When did that happen?" The first one says, "In 1348." So we have conflict in the Middle East based on conflict which has been going on for hundreds of years -- tribal warfare. Contrast this with the West. Look at the United States since the War Between the States. Sure, some in the South talk about how "the South will rise again." But they're not serious. We don't have men from Atlanta hunting down descendants of General Sherman and killing them for what Sherman did to Atlanta. Likewise in the aftermath of World War II. Consider the horror Japan wrought on the United States at Pearl Harbor (don't go off into the Hiroshima discussion). After the war, the United States helped rebuild Japan, and now has great relations with Japan. We're not still trying to wipe them off the face of the map.
Why is this so? Because the West has been influenced by the doctrine of forgiveness, which is central to Christianity. We don't need to take our own revenge, for, on the one hand, God says, "Vengeance is Mine." But also we can forgive our enemies, because God in Christ -- through the blood on the cross -- has forgiven our sins. That concept has given direction to our culture for centuries.
So the "ceremonial" law of shedding of blood has tremendous civil impact as well.
